Fred E. Triquet

Fred Edson Triquet, age 87, of Kalamazoo passed away surrounded by his beloved family, on August 13, 2022 at Rose Arbor Hospice Home. He was born on July 4, 1935 in Kalamazoo, the son of Russell and Leona (Cummins) Triquet. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Fred attended Tri-State University and Western Michigan University. He was a Chief Engineer for Checker Motors and Weber Specialities. He retired from Premier Products in Kalamazoo as Co- Owner, Vice President, and Chief Engineer. On March 19, 1966 Fred and Diane Marie Justice were married. They met as a blind date set up by a co-worker of Diane’s, and her friend was the perfect match maker. Fred and Diane were married for 56 years. They had four beautiful daughters and the best son-in-laws they could have ever imagined. His family includes his wife Diane; his daughters and their husbands: Jennifer (Russell) Smithyman, Prosser, WA; Suzanne (Brian) VandenBrink, Bradenton, FL; Kathleen (Todd) Hurley, Lawton, MI; and Sarah (Jeff) Curry, Paw Paw, MI. He loved his grandchildren with all his heart: Mackenzie Smithyman, Zayne (Chasity) Smithyman, Cassandra Smithyman, Emma VandenBrink, Allen VandenBrink, Parker (Courtney) Hurley, Peyton Hurley, Eliana Curry, Jaxon Curry, Alexia Curry; and his sister Sally Adduci, niece Dianna (Nick) Wilder, and nephew Blake (Jill) Weston. On October 21, 2010, at Cleveland Clinic, Fred was honored with a gift of life by receiving a lung at the age of 75 years old. It was a gift that his entire family cherished and he spent as much time as he could for the next 12 years helping to mentor anyone facing the possibility of receiving a gift of life, an organ transplant. Fred enjoyed spending time at their cabin and boating on the Muskegon River. Fred and Diane enjoyed traveling to Europe, RV-ing the United States, and fly fishing along the way. He loved building things including the house and barns on the family homestead. He purchased a 4 stall garage from Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery. Fred and Diane took it apart and reassembled the entire garage on their Almena property. He was very good at figuring out the impossible. He loved farming and building everything necessary for his girls to raise their 4-H animals. The family belonged to the Almena Happy Helpers 4-H Club for over 24 years. Fred was a hard working and loving family man, successful engineer and businessman. He will be dearly missed by his family and all that knew him. Friends may visit with his family on Saturday, September 3, 2022, from 11:30 am -12:30 pm at Langeland Family Funeral Home, 3926 S. 9th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 pm with his son-in-law, Chaplain Brian VandenBrink, officiating. Interment with military honors for immediate family will follow at Almena Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Fred’s memory to; Second Wind Lung Transplant Assoc., Inc., 3590 Beckwith Lane Crete, IL, 60417, or Gift of Life Foundation 3861 Research Park Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Please visit Fred's memory at www.langelands.com