Fred Frank Bode

Fred Frank Bode, 94, of Jefferson City, died Friday, August 26, 2011, at Villa Marie Skilled Nursing Home. He was born on March 12, 1917, in Taos, the son of the late Stephen John and Johanna Mary Koetting Bode. He was united in marriage on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1940, in Westphalia, to Esther Mary Scheppers, who preceded him in death on April 14, 2011. He attended the rural Cedar Grove School in Cole County and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Taos. After schooling, Fred served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Following his work with the CCC, Fred attended business classes for two years. Fred was a United States Army veteran serving during World War II with the Army Engineers in the Pacific area of Japan obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. His duties included supervision of road construction crews. Fred entered the floor covering trade in 1938. Fred was the owner and operator with his wife Esther of Fred F. Bode Floor Covering in Jefferson City from 1947-1981, at which time he retired. Their company consisted of doing both residential and commercial floor covering work. Later they added more lines to the business which included paint, wallpaper, drapery, ceramic tile and other products. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for over 60 years, Parish Council, Chairman of Immaculate Conception Building Maintenance, Holy Name Society, Legion of Mary, and past member of Retreat League-LaSalette. He was a 50-year member of the Third Degree Knights of Columbus and Dan C. Coppin General Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Helias Council 1054. He was past president and a 50-year member of the West Side Business Association, member of the United Sportsman Club, Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, Inc., and the Mid-Missouri Old Car Club. He served for three years on the Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission. He also volunteered and served on a committee with the Boy Scouts. He was a charter member and 60-year member of the American Legion Post 544, and a member of the Westphalia Historical Society. Fred was an avid hunter and fisherman with his children and grandchildren. At the age of 90, Fred wrote an article on muskrat trapping that was published in the Fur-Fish-Game magazine. In June 2010, he traveled to Washington D.C. with the Central Missouri Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial. He told his family it was one of the best days of his life. His love for old cars included restoring a 1935 Chevy 2-door sedan which was the same model of the car Fred and Esther had when they were married. After restoring the car, he and Esther traveled the country to car shows where he won numerous awards for their car. He was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He also enjoyed gardening, reading, traveling with his wife abroad, spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks, making home movies, and spending time with his family and friends. Survivors include two sons, Stephen (Kay) Bode, St. Martins, Mo., and Gerald (Laura) Bode, Rockton, Ill.; two daughters, Elaine (Del) Bode-Oliver, Jefferson City, and Sharon Bode Messimer, The Woodlands, Texas; one daughter-in-law, Mary Bode, Jefferson City; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth "Libby" (Jerry) Block, Melodie (James) Tharp, Jaala (James) Spratt, Bria (Jeff) Arnel, Jennifer Bode, Heather Bode, and Alexandra Messimer; 10 great-grandchildren, Devin (Nicole) Block, Amber Block, Madison Block, Esther Tharp, Cora Tharp, Timothy Tharp, Annie Spratt, Jayme Spratt, Alexa Spratt, and Kailey Spratt; two greatgreat-grandchildren, Alexus Stark and Eli Routon; one brother and three sisters, Alex Bode, Fulton, Mildred Landwehr, Jefferson City, Helen Blume, Jefferson City, Gertrude Kaemmerlen, Jefferson City; a sister-in-law, Margaret Ann Bode, Jefferson City; and a brother-in-law, Lawrence "Smitty" Smith, Boonville. He was preceded in death by one son, James Bode; three sisters, Catherine Graessle, Dorothy Smith, Marie Stokes; and two brothers, Edwin Bode and Cletus Bode. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 31, 2011, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. David D. Cox officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with a prayer service at 4 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Masses; Helias Foundation, P.O. Box 694, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0694; or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1206 E. McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website. As Fred stands before God at the end of his life, his family knows that he used all his talents, and is telling God he used everything God gave him.