Charles “Fred” Frederic Schlegel

Charles Frederic "Fred" Schlegel of Kalamazoo, MI, died of cancer at home Wednesday, October 7, 2020 surrounded by family. Fred was born September 2, 1930 in Allentown, PA. He graduated from Kingston High School in Kingston, PA where he was senior class president, yearbook editor, and a member of the track and basketball teams. He went on to attend Columbia University in New York, NY in the engineering school and was on the wrestling team. For many years he lived in Connecticut, other areas of the East Coast, and Park Ridge, IL where he had two children. After settling in Kalamazoo, he met and married Chris Manchester on April 24, 1987. Fred spent his career in operations consulting and manufacturing management retiring from Parker Hannifin in Kalamazoo in 1999.

If you ask anyone who Fred Schlegel was, he was warm, kind-hearted with extraordinary wit, and remembered by all who met him. His generosity and compassion to those in need - friends, neighbors and four-legged friends - was at the center of his being. He was a devoted and loving husband for 33 years to Chris and a proud father of Frederic and Suzanne. His dogs, Winnie and Andy, were his constant companions. Throughout the years, he filled his free time volunteering with local events and organizations: coaching his daughter's West Portage Little League softball team, planning and attending his high school reunions, presiding as Treasurer for West Main Neighborhood Association, and Neighborhood Picnic Chair for the USTA Tennis Tournament.

Fred died just as he lived - positive until his final day. He loved his garden, weightlifting, New York Times and Wall Street Journal crossword puzzles, crime novels and physics books, children and grandchildren, and watching sports of any kind - especially Michigan football with his daughter.

Fred was preceded in death by his father, Charles, and his mother, Uxa. He is survived by his wife, Chris Manchester Schlegel; his two children, Frederic (Shannon) Schlegel of Los Angeles, CA; Suzanne (Mark) Schlei of Downers Grove, IL; and his four grandchildren, Aviana, Alexandra, Isabella, and Carter. He is also fondly remembered by his mother-in-law, Christine Manchester; sister-in-law, Anne Bond; and, former wife, Topsy Schlegel.

Memorial contributions can be made in honor of Fred Schlegel to ASPCA Southwest Michigan and Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan at jfonmi.org. Due to COVID-19, a memorial service will be planned for 2021.

Please visit Fred's personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com