Frederick William Delich Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Fred was cherished, loved and respected by those who knew him. He is remembered as a nurturing, humble, wise, loyal protector and for his deep love and affection for his family, friends, animals, neighbors and so many others. He passed away unexpectedly and peacefully into the arms of God without suffering or pain, with his family near his side at the age of 86. Fred was born in 1935 to the late Lorine (Pummel) and John Delich, the 7th son of 11 children. He lived with his 10 siblings, Johnny, Josephine, Louise, Rosemary, Bernice, Don, Bernard, Joann, Jerry and Gloria on a family farm in Kansas City, KS. He was married to the love of his life, Trish (Hendricks), for 55 years. Fred and Trish share two daughters; Jennifer and Krista. Fred was a thoughtful, supportive husband, father and grandfather. Fred graduated from Washington High School in 1954 and attended KCK Metropolitan College. He was a talented athlete, he played football in high school and college, often earning write-ups about his performance in the local newspaper. He joined the Air Force Reserve serving as a Military Police officer from 1958 -1964. Fred had a 36-year career at Procter & Gamble as a chemical analyst from 1958-1994. He also had fond memories of his earlier jobs at Kansas Grain Inspection, Kreeson Trucking and Columbia Steel Tank. In the 1970’s, he satisfied his entrepreneurial spirit by starting a small used car business Delich Auto Sales with his brother, Jerry. Since he was a young boy, he was always concerned for the well-being of his family and equally attentive to the animals on the farm. He chose to spend hours tending to their extensive garden, farm chores and riding horses. Fred has fond memories of sharing a room with his brothers and grandfather, Ivan, a Croatian immigrant. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandkids, watching them play sports and teaching them how to drive, or taking them out to eat. Fred took pride in the Brookside family home for 44 years, welcoming everyone for family gatherings and always walking people out to their car as they left. In the last 3 years of his life, he and Trish moved from their home to a loft near Beacon Hill where he learned to relax more and let go of working on his projects. They spent a fun filled day together repotting plants and taking a walk on the day he passed. He enjoyed traveling to beaches and to the mountains, taking long walks, smoking his American Spirits along the way. He had a life-long affair with drinking coffee. Fred adored his pets and he had many over his lifetime. He had an affinity with animals, loved to watch birds, especially cardinals. Fred was a keen collector of old treasures and artifacts. He had a deep appreciation for antiques and beautiful architecture. He tirelessly pursued his interests, striving to perfect multiple projects that he did not necessarily finish in a timely manner. He could be seen outside in his yard, painting, doing brickwork, installing fencing, and mowing the lawn well into his 80's. There was a garage full of bicycles growing up which were shared with the neighborhood kids. He could be a man of few words but also told the best jokes at the most appropriate times. His legacy is sharing pure love generously and making sure everyone feels cared for, and he will be remembered for his warm, embracing hugs. Fred’s Memorial will be held on March 13, 2022. Visitation at 2:30 pm and Memorial Service at 3:00pm at Unity Temple on the Plaza 707 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64112. His family will also be planning a ‘Celebration of Life’ in August of this year. He is survived by his loving family, his wife, Trish, his daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and John Rudis and their sons Eric, Stephen and Joseph and his daughter and son-in-law, Krista Delich and Tim Stith and their kids Ruby and Desmond. Surviving siblings are Bernice Mueller, Joann Francis (Eddie) Gloria Anderson (Dick). He is also survived by his beloved cat, Nikki. He is preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings, countless friends, cousins, aunts and uncles. In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to the animal shelter of your choice.

Frederick William Delich

August 1, 1935 - March 3, 2022