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Frederic Charles Herres

June 22, 1948–August 21, 2023

Frederic Charles "Fritz" Herres, 75, of Pleasant Hill, Ore., passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on August 21, 2023. He was grandpa, farmer, cattleman, devoted father, and humble war hero.

He was born in Pomeroy, Wash., on June 22, 1948, to John and Dorothy Herres and grew up on the Herres family farm in Pomeroy, Wash.

Fritz served in Vietnam as Crew Chief Gunner with the 189th A.S.L.T Helicopter company and earned the Air Medal and two Oak Leaf clusters for heroism. After his discharge in 1970, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Washington State University.

Fritz returned to Pomeroy to work alongside his father raising cattle, wheat, and barley. The ranch is also where he met his first wife Charlotte, and her kids Matt, April, Catherine, and Jody. Fritz and Charlotte were married in Pomeroy, on December 11, 1982. They raised the kids in Pomeroy and Starbuck, with almost every possible 4-H and FFA project, loads of board games, cutting wood on Robinette Mountain, working cattle, growing crops, and supporting the horse crazy girls pursuing their dreams. Charlotte passed away November 21, 1995, after an arduous battle with cancer.

In 1999 Fritz married Sheryl Harris in Walla Walla, Wash. A few years later they relocated to Halfway, Ore., for Fritz to manage a bison ranch. After retiring from livestock handling, he and Sheryl moved way outside of Pendleton, Ore., near Bingham Springs. Fritz started driving for his job, delivering trailers and boats and took every chance to visit Matt's family in Crestwood, Kentucky. It was a precious time for him to be grandpa to Isaac and Isaiah while they were babies. Injuries to his spine during military service put a damper on travel though. After he and Sheryl divorced in 2005, he moved to western Oregon closer to April's family.

-Submitted photo

Frederic Charles Herres

Fritz worked in a leather shop in Springfield, Ore., and met his wife, Kim there. They married on July 2, 2009. They carved out their own corner of the world in Pleasant Hill, Ore., growing a large garden, sitting under the sycamore, building a wood working shop, and enjoying friends and family. Many of his hours were spent on the scrolls saws and other tools creating treasures and gifts. Fritz had a capacity for explaining things in detail and a passion for shooting sports. He and grandson, Joe, shared many stories, adventures, and projects. Fritz adored granddaughter, June, and her gentle creative nature.

Fritz was predeceased by his beloved father John P. Herres, mother Dorothy Herres, brother John Herres, sister Joan Kay Herres, and wife Charlotte Herres. He is survived by Kim Herres, Matt and Anita Hale, April and David Bardy, Catherine Clevinger, Jody and Luis Lopez, Isaac Hale, Isaiah Hale, Joe Bardy, and June Clevinger.

"Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not."