Cover photo for John Frederiksen's Obituary
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John Frederiksen

March 28, 1949 — January 4, 2023

Coal City

John Frederiksen

Age 73 of Coal City, Illinois died unexpectedly on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at his home.

Born March 28, 1949 in Streator, Illinois, John Lee is a son of Betty Jean (nee Irvin) Vilt and the late Earl Leroy Frederiksen. He moved to Coal City in the third grade; graduated from Coal City High School with the Class of 1967, and went on to attend both Joliet Junior College and DeVry Institute of Technology. On November 1, 1969, John married Sue Togliatti in the Coal City United Methodist Church and together they made a home and raised their family in Coal City. In that same year, 1969, John gained employment with Caterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet, where he went on to work as an Electrician for the following 34 years, when he retired in 2003. Following his retirement, he returned to work at CAT with various other subcontractors for an additional 15 years.

He was a member of the Coal City United Methodist Church, where he participated in the United Methodist Men’s Group and served as a Trustee. He also belonged to the Coal City Area Club. John enjoyed fishing, camping and running, and took pleasure in gardening and tending to his roses. Many memories were made traveling on alley adventures and taking off on random cheese runs. John drew roads on the map before they made print, and in his travels he could almost always find a fellow Caterpillar employee to visit with. He was a true storyteller, could strike up a conversation with anyone he encountered, and as a jokester, enjoyed making others laugh. He bowled in years past, but in more recent days took pleasure in classic television and could often be found enjoying his popcorn drizzled in Bagna Caulda. Gone from our sight, John Frederiksen leaves behind a wonderful legacy that he build alongside his family and those who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Sue; three children: Amy (Tom) Borchelt, Amanda (Steven) Burns and Erik (Alanna) Frederiksen, all of Coal City; five grandchildren: Jacob and Natalie Borchelt, August and Victoria Burns and Nolan Frederiksen; his mother, Betty Vilt of Dwight; step-mother, Lois Frederiksen of Arizona; five siblings: Maryann (Jimmy Dean) Krug of Coal City, Doug (Cheri) Sutton of Texas, Cinda (Michael) Conroyd of Arizona, Lark (Deb) Frederiksen of Verona, Leann Havekost of Arizona and Michelle (Don) Wilson of Shorewood; two aunts: Ethel McConnell of Ottawa and Marie Frederiksen of Aurora; two brothers-in-law: Dave (Donna) Togliatti of Coal City and Marc (Merikay) Togliatti of Morris, and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his father, Earl Frederiksen; brother-in-law, Vince Hodgson, and two nephews: Kevin Togliatti and Craig Holmes.

The family will receive friends for a visitation at the Coal City United Methodist Church, 6805 E. McArdle Road in Coal City on Friday, January 13, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until the time of funeral service, 6:00 p.m. Rev. Jay Regennitter will officiate, and cremation rites will be accorded following the services.

John will be laid to rest in the Braceville-Gardner Cemetery Columbarium.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in John’s memory to the Coal City United Methodist Church, 6805 E. McArdle Road, Coal City, IL 60416

Family and friends are encouraged to log onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com to sign the online guest book, upload photographs or share John’s memorial page through social media.

Funeral services and cremation arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Coal City. (815-634-2125)  

To send flowers to the family in memory of John Frederiksen, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, January 13, 2023

3:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)

Coal City United Methodist Church

6805 E McArdle Rd, Coal City, IL 60416

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Funeral Service

Friday, January 13, 2023

6:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Coal City United Methodist Church

6805 E McArdle Rd, Coal City, IL 60416

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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