Dr. Frederick C Brechler

Frederick Carl Brechler, 82, of Jacksonville, FL passed away at Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care in Jacksonville Beach, FL on Friday evening, November 3, 2017.

He was born to Wilma & Lena Brechler, Wausau, WI on October 19, 1935.

Fred graduated from Wausau East High School then from Lawrence College which is now Lawrence College in Appleton, WI. In 1959 he married Gretchen Hollander from Appleton, WI. They recently celebrated their 58 ^th anniversary. They have one daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Ann Anderson.

While growing up Fred was active in Boy Scouts achieving the Order of the Arrow and was a Boy Scout camp counselor. When his daughter was growing up he was active in the Girl Scouts with her and Gretchen.

After graduating from Lawrence, Fred taught high school history then joined the U.S. Army. After base training he was in the reserves while at The Ohio State University where he earned his Master’s Degree and PHD.

Fred was Assistant Director of Continuing Education at the University of MO, St Louis, where he helped set up the school of optometry.

He then was Director of Continuing Education in Miami Shores, FL.

His second career was selling men’s suits at J.C. Penny. He will always be remembered for his customer service by his faithful customers and co-workers.

Fred was forever a scholar, always learning new things. He studied architecture, and loved trains. He enjoyed studying train and airplane schedules. He was a member of Railway Locomotive Historical Society. He and his wife were avid skiers and he was a member of the ski patrol growing up. They enjoyed many ski trips to the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec, Canada. Fred also loved writing and published many articles. He loved classical and Jazz Music, as well as the theater. One of his other favorite past times was cutting timber in his woods in WI. Fred loved his family, his church and Sunday School Class at Orange Park UMC where he sometimes taught lessons.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lena Brechler, his cousin Robert Brechler, aunts Irma Brechler and Ana Kamrath.

He is survived by his wife Gretchen; his daughter Rebecca (Becky) Anderson and son-in-law Michael Anderson; nephew, great-nephews, niece and great-nieces.

Fred’s memorial service will be at Orange Park United Methodist Church, 2105 Park Ave., Orange Park, FL on Saturday, November 25 ^th at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vitas Hospice, 7406 Fullerton St., Jacksonville, FL 32256.