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Frederick Linsell

January 27, 1920 - October 19, 2014
Traverse City, MI

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Visitation

Thursday, October 23, 2014
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
Central United Methodist Church
222 Cass St
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 946-5191

Service

Thursday, October 23, 2014
11:00 AM EDT
Central United Methodist Church
222 Cass St
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 946-5191

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Traverse City Safe Harbor
701 Westminster Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
(765) 688-0211
Web Site

Doctors Without Borders
Web Site

Veterans for Peace
216 South Meramec Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 725-6005
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Frederick Linsell passed away on the morning of the first frost, October 19, at Munson Hospital. Fred was husband to Janice, father to Jim and David, grandfather to Christopher, Jeffrey, Daniel, and Forrest, father-in-law to Mary Ann and Christine, recent grandfather-in-law to Chris's wife Kelly, brother to Walter, Edward, and Barbara, uncle to several loved nieces and nephews and their families, and friend to all. He exuded love, acceptance, generosity, appreciation, calm, and friendliness.

Fred was born at home in Detroit on January 27, 1920 to Julia Williams Linsell and Walter H. Linsell. He graduated from Central High School, Detroit and in 1941 from the University of Michigan, a member of Sigma Phi fraternity at U of M. His high school and college summers were spent happily working at Camp Westminster on Higgins Lake. He spent four years in the U.S. Army as an administrator in the medical corps.

He and Janice Armstrong Primrose were married at Central Methodist Church Detroit on February 4, 1950 and were longtime members of Central United Methodist Churches in Detroit and Traverse City. Fred worked in training and community relations for Burroughs Corporation in Detroit and Plymouth and as a social worker for the Department of Human Rights, City of Detroit, assigned mostly to race relations projects in the areas of open housing and school desegregation. He was a lifetime advocate and worker for world peace, reconciliation and justice, an avid reader, active Democratic Party supporter, member of the National Organization for Women and campaigner for the Equal Rights Amendment. In his retirement he established a peace center at his church, worked for Habitat for Humanity and Veterans for Peace and doted on his beloved wife, Janice.

Fred had a vocabulary that would put a dictionary to shame. His everyday conversation often challenged you to learn a new word or usage. He never failed to use a person's name, inquire about them, and offer a compliment. Others always came first. He was a true gentleman. Dad's trademark fashion look was well expressed in the following typical exchange: "Fred, what shirt do you want to wear today?" "Any shirt as long as it's yellow".

He was happiest in the presence of his family or in service to others. His was a life well lived.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. also at the church. A short reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Veterans for Peace, Doctors Without Borders, or Traverse City Safe Harbor are welcome. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to sign the guest book and share a message with his family. The family chose Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City.

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