Frederick Cloyce Friess passed away at the age of 95 on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Kingston Residence, 4125 King Road, Sylvania, OH 43560.  He was born the fifth of eight children in his childhood home in Sylvania, Ohio on December 12, 1928, to Chelsea J. (April 25, 1896 – February 15, 1949 and Florence E. Friess nee Good (October 11, 1900 – February 19, 1995).

He was drafted into the United States Army on November 10, 1950 and served on active duty until October 21, 1952.  He did his basic training at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky and completed additional training at several other camps during which time he initially served in kitchen duty and then in a field maintenance company for servicing of field binoculars and telescopes. He was then to deploy to South Korea from Fort Lewis, Washington as part of the 94th Engineer Construction Battalion but enroute he and four others were selected to serve in motor pool duty and were disembarked from the ship during a stopover in Yokohama, Japan.  After active service, Private First Class Friess (Serial No. 52054835) was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (inactive) and was eventually honorably discharged on November 1, 1956.

Fred married Nina Margaret Bidlack (March 16, 1929 – April 29, 2007) in Lima, Ohio on June 27, 1953, and they settled in Sylvania, Ohio celebrating 54 years together until Margaret’s passing.  Fred began work as a utility line clearance serviceman with the Davey Tree Expert Company on November 4, 1946, and apart from his almost two years of active-duty time in the army remained with the company until May 2, 1986, eventually becoming a crew foreman and earning several awards for his sustained safety record.  Upon a Toledo Edison line clearing contract change he then worked for the Asplundh Tree Expert Company from May 5, 1986, until his last day of work on March 4, 1991, at age 62.  Officially retiring on July 1, 1991 after his 43 years as a utility line tree serviceman, he continued to enjoy his passions for fishing, golfing, and observing nature.  A quiet, independent, and hard-working family provider; he was a life-time member of the American Legion and a contributor to several charities.

He is survived by his daughters, Susan Kay Runco (TX) and Cindy Fay Sengstock (OH); grandchildren, Matthew Frederick Sengstock (OH), Maria Margaret and Carl Christopher Runco (TX); and his youngest brother, Richard Robert (FL).  He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and his siblings: Chelsea Edwin (April 25, 1918 – August 27, 1991), Ellery Pearl (March 9, 1922 – May 28, 2004), Merle Edward (September 28, 1924 – August 18, 1967), Donald Eugene (July 28, 1927 – August 6, 1999), Joyce A. (February 3-28, 1931), and Carolyn Roseann Hass (September 26, 1932 – November 5, 2019).

Visitation was held at Reeb Funeral Home, 5712 Main Street, Sylvania, Ohio 43560, on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 10:00 until 13:00, at which time services were held.  Interment followed at the Sylvania Township Association Cemetery, 6805 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, OH 43560. The family requested donations to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, The Humane Society, or the Cherry Street Mission.  Please leave online condolences at http://www.reebfuneralhome.com.