Frederick L. Vocke, age 93, a resident of the town of Manitowoc, entered eternal life late Thursday afternoon, April 13, 2017 at his residence with family by his side.

Fred was born on November 3, 1924 in Kansas. He was the son of the late Edward and Etta Trout Kingon. Fred attended Chicago area schools and graduated from Downers Grove Community High School with the class of 1942. At the age of 17 with permission from his parents, Fred entered the United States Navy in 1942 and attended the University of Iowa and Marquette University in Milwaukee for preflight training before being sent to Olatha, Kansas and Pensacola Naval Air Station for pilot training. Fred qualified for aircraft carrier takeoffs and landings on the US Navy's Wolverine on Chicago's lakefront. He served overseas during World War II in combat in the Philippine Islands. He was a loyal friend to many, especially his shipmates on the USS Savo Island, the aircraft escort carrier he called home during WWII. He attended Savo Island reunions all over the country and sometimes including his sons and grandson Karl. Fred was a pioneer in naval aviation and one of the aviators who transtioned from WWII propeller air craft to post- war jet aircraft. Fred was employed for many years with Schwartz Manufacturing of Two Rivers. On August 1942 he married his high school sweetheart Rosemary Grush in Downers Grove, IL. They were together for 60 years when she preceded him in death December 6, 2005 leaving Fred with a broken heart. Fred had been a member of the Naperville Country Club in Naperville, Il, Fountainhead Country Club, Hagerstown, MD, Morris Frock Post #42, Hagerstown, MD, and the Manitowoc Elks Club. He enjoyed Indian artifact hunting, golf, playing cards, following the Green Bay Packers football team and was an avid reader of historical books and novels. Fred also enjoyed playing catch and football with his sons and took pride in never missing a football game his sons participated in.

He was a patient and guiding father to his two sons: Thomas (Susan) Vocke, Manitowoc and Timothy (Maribeth) Vocke, Rhinelander; one sister: Sharon (Harold) Brown, Kansas City, MO; seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife: Rosemary in 2005; son: James Frederick Vocke in 1980; sister: Marlene Scantlin in 2016.

To respect Fred's wishes there will be no funeral services. Cremation has taken place at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel. Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the caregivers at Laurel Grove Memory Care and Heartland Hospice for their kindness to Fred and his family.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair Streets, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.