Fred Bredthauer, Jr.

Fred Bredthauer, Jr., was born on December 25, 1929 in Brenham, Texas, and died on April 9, 2019 in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Brenham High School in 1948 where he was valedictorian of his senior class and an accomplished athlete, earning letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was captain and the quarterback of the 1947 football team and earned All State honors. He was also captain and high scorer of the basketball team, guiding the Cubs to their first-ever state tournament in Austin. In 2010, Fred was inducted into the Brenham High School Football Hall of Honor.

After graduating high school, Fred went on to attend Texas A&M College (now Texas A&M University) where he graduated with honors in 1952 with a BBA degree. He was a member of the freshman football team, a Distinguished Military Student and held a cadet rank of Colonel in the Corp of Cadets.

He was called to active military duty in September 1952, married his college sweetheart, Frances Ann Navratil, on October 25, 1952, and spent his tour of duty at Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was honorably discharged as First Lieutenant in May 1954.

In the summer of 1954, he was employed in Houston by Prudential Insurance Company in their management training program. While working at Prudential, he attended the University of Houston Graduate Business School and graduated with honors in 1956 with an MBA in Management. In 1960, he made a career decision and joined Merrill Lynch as a financial consultant where he retired as Vice President in 1994.

Fred and Frances are members St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and former members of Memorial Drive Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran Church in Houston. He felt that only one career change and one church denomination change over an 89-year life attested to his Germanic persistence and steadfast love of God, family and friends, in that order. His faith was of utmost importance to him and he was a steadfast servant of God throughout his entire life.

Fred was predeceased by his parents Fred and Wilhelmina Bredthauer, to whom he lovingly attributed who he was, and the lengthy and enjoyable life he lived. He is survived by his wife Frances Ann; his son Paul Bredthauer and wife Jenni; his daughter Amy Bredthauer Gissel and husband Lewis, his grandchildren Ben Bredthauer and wife Jordan, Max Bredthauer and wife Rebekah, Will Bredthauer, Henry Gissel IV and Lizzie Gissel; three great-grandchildren Grayson, Logan and Aubrey Mae Bredthauer; his brother Gene Bredthauer and wife Bettie, sister Ruth Bredthauer Warfield, one niece and three nephews.

A visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham, Texas on Monday, April 15th from 10-11 am followed by a private burial at Prairie Lea Cemetery. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 16 at 2 pm at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, with the Rev. R-J Heijmen presiding. A reception will follow at a location to be announced at the service.

If desiring, memorial gifts may be made to: The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, 505 George Bush Dr., College Station, TX 77840-2918 or Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association, PO Box 800211, Houston TX 77280-0211.

Funeral arrangements for Fred Bredthauer, Jr. are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main, Brenham, Tx. 77833. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.

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