(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
Allen “Al” Fredrickson departed his earthly existence on April 9, 2021 after an eighteen-month battle with cancer. Al was well known for his lifelong love of photography and always being in pursuit of images that captured the moment and told the story.
Al was born on August 23, 1951 in Fargo, ND. He moved to northern Illinois as an infant and lived in Zion and Waukegan before moving to Pleasant Prairie in southeast Wisconsin in 1959. Al attended Prairie Lane Elementary School through the eighth grade and graduated from Tremper High School in 1969. He served two years in the Army with the Military Police at Fort Campbell, Kentucky during the Vietnam era. Al then went to college at UW-Parkside and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications.
Al was a photographer for student newspaper publications at both Tremper and UW-Parkside. He started his photography career working at the Kenosha News, Waukesha Freeman and the Milwaukee Journal. Al then embarked on a freelance career in which he covered most of the home games of the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers for Reuters news agency. He performed many assignments for the Catholic Herald and Ripon College.
Al grew up with a love of the burgeoning US space program in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He combined his love of photography and space exploration to cover many space shuttle launches, including all five maiden voyages of the shuttle fleet. He covered many natural disasters including flooding in North Dakota, riding out Hurricane Frances in Florida in 2004 and chronicling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. Al enjoyed both bicycling and gardening, as well as his dogs and rabbits.
Al is survived by his father, Ron, and brothers Dave (Kim), Don (Betty Jo) and Steve, and his niece, Jennifer (Dale) Hedrick. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carrol and sister-in-law, Pat Fredrickson. Al was surrounded by his family at home during his final days, just as he had so compassionately cared for several close friends at the end of their lives. The Fredrickson family thanks Paul Rembas for the wonderful care he provided Al in his final months at home.
A memorial service will take place at 11:00AM on Saturday April 17th, 2021 at the Kemper Center Founders Hall. (6501-3rd Avenue) Visitation with the family will be on Saturday in Founders Hall from 9:30AM until the time of service. Burial will take place at a later date at the Southern WI Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials to either the American Cancer Society or the Waukesha Humane Society would be appreciated.
Casey Family Options Funerals and Cremation
Stephen P. Casey, Owner and Funeral Director
(262) 653-0667
www.CaseyFamilyOptions.com
Mon - Fri: 8AM - 4PM
(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
Philip Livingston says:
I always thought if Allen Fredrickson could be a great photographer, so could I. I learned his meticulous lab skills as a helper trainee in the Tremper High School Tempest/Classic darkroom. Al cut his teeth on Basketball and covering sports. I watched Al carefully under the hoop waiting for the school basketball players to jump up with the ball. I really thought I could do it. Allen’s work was better and I never had even one shot that could make the paper. Al was just better. He sized up the situation and anticipated where people would be, and almost always included the basketball in the shot. There was no way I was even close to Al’s skill at rapid composition assessment and freezing action. Al was a master at doing this instantly, on the fly. Al would show up for every assignment with a rapid assessment of what his best options were and always took a usable photo to the editor’s desk. I knew Allen since 6th Grade at Prairie Lane School in Kenosha and I just watched him get better and become a professional photographer who mastered light, even on black faces. His black and white photograph of a 16-year old Michael Jackson, was wired around the world at Michael’s death. It is nearly a perfect exposure of Michael Jackson’s skin in one of his classic poses. Al was a master photographer. He was also a consummate professional with super high standards. Normally, a shy man, he developed social skills that could even put stars and politicians at ease. He always photographed the best in people. I am so proud he was my friend. I grew to deeply love this man. He recently drove a mutual friend to alcohol treatment in Minnesota and made sure he went through treatment. Like all of his brothers, they were a team of loving men who took care of members of their family. Even in Al’s final days, all his brothers were there to be with him when he died. It is so sad Al is not with among us, in life. Allen’s peers acknowledge he was among Wisconsin’s best photojournalists.
Dave Fredrickson says:
Thank you, Phil. You have always been one of Al’s very close friends.
Robert Vandenberg says:
I first met Al in 1959 when his and my family moved into homes in a subdivision known then as Pleasant Homes in southwestern Wisconsin less than a mile north of the Illinois state line. Being born only about three months apart and living across the street from each other we naturally became fast friends. We played softball and football in the back yards and empty lots of the neighborhood, shoveled many of the neighbor hood driveways together for extra cash in the winters and sent many a model rocket skyward in the summers. We attended school together through high school and then went our separate ways keeping in loose touch over the years. He was a great guy and the best photographer I ever met. He seemed to be able to keep at least that loose touch with about everyone he ever met. He knew their stories and their family’s stories and always had his own great stories from all the interesting people and places he encountered in his career. I am deeply sorry he is gone. I know he will be missed by many. Time and distance will prevent me from attending his memorial, but I will be thinking of Al this Saturday. My sincere condolences to his Father Ron and brothers Dave and Steve.
Dave Fredrickson says:
Thanks, Bob. I certainly remember your rocket launches and one ill-fated mouse on your first attempt at a “manned” mission.
One memory that hit me in thinking about Al is the “small business” you and he had in the mid-1960’s – capturing the lyrics of various Beatle’s songs, typing them up, and then attempting to sell them to others. Your kind remembrances are very much appreciated.
Karen Vandenberg Cuozzo says:
I also remember Allen in the later years. He would come down to Florida to cover the space shuttles. He always stopped in to see my Mom and Dad. He would sit and tell us his stories about his photos. He will be missed. I am sending my prayers and good thoughts to the family.
Beth Lawson says:
I met Al through my cousin Ann Terlinden. Their friendship went back many years. Al helped her with heavy duty chores and she delighted in cooking for him. Together Ann and Al spent many hours helping their mutual friend Frieda. After Ann passed away of cancer Al would go to
lunch with my sister Linda Imig, who also had cancer. Al had time for anyone in need. He also had plenty of good stories which everyone enjoyed and had a memory that wouldn’t quit. He passed way too early but left a legacy that will last forever. I send my sympathy to the family. May they find peace in their memories of Al.
Dave Fredrickson says:
Thanks, Beth. Ann and Frieda were treasured friends of Al’s. Al had a good heart and helped so many in their times of need. We are grateful for the help that Linda provided to Al, despite the fact she was fighting her own battle with cancer.
Steve Fredrickson says:
Dear brother Al,
I regret the way that we so strongly disagreed (fought). I’ll never regret being your little brother. I love and miss you now and for ever. I cherish the memories of our last times together.
Love , Steve
Dave Fredrickson says:
Steve – When Al wanted to return home for his final days, it was your immediate agreement to stay with him 24/7 that enabled that return. Your “remodeling” of his home in recent months enabled him to continue living there. Your actions speak loudly of your love for your big brother.
Tom Rutledge says:
Al was a kind and thoughtful man.
Sincere condolences to all who loved him.
Nick Lomartire says:
“Uncle” Al was one of my dads best friends for the last 50 years. When he would travel to Cape Canaveral to shoot the shuttle launches, he would come visit us in Tampa. When Paul would need a photographer for a story, first guy he would call was Al. They rode out a couple hurricanes together covering them. Al also was the only guy I know who played FreeCell. He played it the van we rented the whole ride up to Tallahassee from Tampa as Paul and Al we’re on the way to cover a story about the FAMU band. Al also shot some of my high school and college football games, his pictures were so good we decided to make a team calendar with them. He met us in Minneapolis for the Elite Eight as Wisconsin was playing. My dad covered the game and Al took the pictures. Somehow Al ends up with the scissors Dwayne Wade used to cut the net down after Marquette won.
Al also took me to my first Packers game around 2008-2009. They played the Panthers and lost, it was one of the worst blizzards in the last decade he said. So of course he puts a Florida boy who has never driven in snow to navigate his boat (Cadillac) back to Milwaukee as he had a deadline to upload all the pictures from the game. Luckily, we made it home and it’s a game I will never forget for the rest of my life.
Uncle Al wasn’t related to me but it sure felt like he was my Uncle. As you can see, we had many adventures together, mostly in the sports capacity. I will miss and always remember him and cherish all the moments we had together. I know he is with Paul now, probably having a cup of coffee and listening to Bruce.
-Nick Lomartire
Dave Fredrickson says:
Thanks, Nick. Al treasured his friendship with your dad. He would be so proud of the tribute that you wrote. Al told me on many occasions about your prowess as a placekicker.
Having worked the sidelines with Al and driven with him after the games, I hear you when you relate the story about driving home in Al’s Cadillac. The scary part is that he would often be editing photos when he was driving back to Waukesha by himself. I fully expect Al and Paul are catching up on old times.
Linda and Larry Lesick says:
Ron,
Linda and I are so sorry to learn of Al’s passing. Please know that you are in Linda’s prayers and I’m keeping a good thought for you.
– Linda and Larry Lesick
David Heritsch says:
Shortly after I was asked to launch Reuters photo service in Wisconsin, which a did, cluelessly, Al came on board and threw me a life preserver. My only real interest in sports photography was that it paid for the long glass I needed for wildlife photography. But with Al it became fun, and we covered many Brewer and Packers games together over the years. Bill King of the Bucks would never allow us two passes, and for some reason he relentlessly busted our balls, for basically providing the organization free publicity coverage. Go figure. Al and I loved to joke about it, right to the end.
I mostly loved Al’s stories of covering news and events around the globe. He also baptized me with all the great colloquial jargon of the photojournalist – “throw up a set of sticks”; “I made of movie of that play at home plate”.
I was so proud of him when he landed a photo on the cover of the New York Times, thanks to his newsman intuition, and fast thinking. In a suburb of Chicago a commuter train had hit a school bus full of kids, because it was pinned at a red light with the back of the bus hanging over the tracks. Al raced to a small Wisconsin air field and got a pilot to fly him over the scene. Al’s photo from above, of the carriage of the bus, off the frame, and laying on it’s side, was as chilling as it was illustrative of this deadly tragedy. He made similar harrowing photos flying over New Orleans, in the wake of Katrina.
If there was news to be shared with the world, Allen Fredrickson could always be relied on to bring back the story, in pictures.
Dave Fredrickson says:
Nice tribute, Dave! Thanks so much for sharing these meaningful memories.
Tom Hosmanek says:
I just saw this on the Tremper Facebook page. The first thing I think of with Al was his smile. He always seemed up, and that smile put others at ease. We worked together on The Tempest for a number of years, and we never worried about Al bringing in excellent photos, and many times some extras beyond his assignments. Great guy and sorry to hear of his passing. He was obviously loved and admired by many.
Phil Runkel says:
Just learned the news through a google search. I also met Al through Ann Terlinden. Two good friends, gone far too soon.