Thomas Edwin Fricke

Thomas Edwin Fricke, 75, and Abigail Nickerson Fricke, 73, of Berrien Springs, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2007, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A Service of Victory will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Thursday, February 1, 2007, at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4333 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville, with Rev. Phillip Quardokus and Rev. Walter Otten officiating. Burial will immediately follow the service in Graceland Cemetery in Bridgman. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 31, 2007, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne or Christ Lutheran Church. Friends may send the family a condolence message or sign the guest book on-line at www.starks-menchinger.com. Tom was born on September 13, 1931, in Chicago, IL, to Clarence and Martha (Tomhave) Fricke. Abigail was born on July 28, 1933, in Detroit, MI, to Ralph and Gladys (Timmerman) Nickerson. Tom graduated from Benton Harbor High School and Abigail graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit. They both graduated from the University of Michigan. Tom majored in engineering and Abigail majored in education. Abigail later went to the University of Illinois and graduated with a major in accounting. Tom and Abigail were married on June 6, 1954, in Detroit and from that moment on they were always together. They had one daughter, Katie. Tom was the general manager/engineer for Citizens Utilities Co. in Chicago and City of Kalamazoo Water Department. Abigail was an English teacher. Later she worked as an accountant/bookkeeper for Humana Health Care in Chicago, IL. They were both members of Christ Lutheran Church in Stevensville. Tom sang in the choir and Abigail was a member of Altar Guild. Tom grew up on a farm in Fairplain and he always had his roots in South Western Michigan. His third career was as a grape grower. He was a member of Michigan Grape Society and enjoyed wine making. Abigail attended the grape meetings with Tom and did all the book keeping for the vineyard. Tom also enjoyed playing the organ, traveling, woodworking, fishing when he had time and music, especially Bach. Abigail enjoyed bird watching, crossword puzzles and reading. Tom and Abigail are survived by their daughter, Katie (Wally) Maurer of Bridgman and Tom’s brother, Gerald Fricke of St. Joseph. They were both preceded in death by their parents.