Frederick Charles Rice.  Fred passed away on December 30, 1984 at Community Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan after being hospitalized about three weeks.  He was a native and resident of Battle Creek.  He served in the Marine Corps Reserves.  Fred was a well-known labor leader and community service worker, and was active in Democratic Party politics.  He had been employed as a lineman by Consumers Power Co. since 1966, and had long been president of Local 106 of the Utility Workers Union of America at Consumers.  He was a past president of the Tri-County Labor Agency for Human Services and the agency’s current secretary-treasurer, and was vice president and a past president of the Calhoun County AFL-CIO Labor Council.  Fred served on the board of directors of the United Way of Battle Creek for several years, and in April 1984 was named chairman of the Labor Support Committee for the United Way’s 1984 fund campaign.  He also served multiple terms as a member of the board of directors of the United Way of Michigan.  In January of 1983 he was honored by the board of directors of the Community Action Agency of South Central Michigan for five years of service on the agency’s board of directors.  He also was active for several years in the Calhoun County Democratic Party and was a member of its executive board of directors.  Fred was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping.  Survivors included his wife, the former Rose K. Kinman; daughters, Jennifer Sue Rice and Amy Elizabeth Rice; a stepdaughter, Holly Beth Mackinder; his mother and stepfather June and Norbert C Hoppe; a sister, Vivian S Blanchette; a brother, Edward E. Rice; a half-brother, David N. Hoppe; a half-sister, Joyce M. Hoppe; and his maternal grandmother, Marie A. Maddox.

Information from the Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, Michigan, December 31, 1984 obtained from Willard Library