Colonel John E. Fredette

John Edmond Fredette, 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Surprise, Arizona, on Thursday, July 31, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Born in Athol, Massachusetts, John was the son of the late Edmond and Lauza Fredette. He grew up in Athol, where he delivered the Athol Daily News, worked at Garbose Shoe Store on Main Street, and served as an altar boy at Our Lady Immaculate Church. He graduated from Athol High School in 1958 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in history from Saint Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont, in 1962. He later earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Oklahoma in 1966 and completed additional studies at the Armed Forces Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Colonel Fredette entered the United States Air Force in 1962 and served for 24 years, rising to the rank of Colonel. His distinguished career in the Personnel field took him across the globe, with assignments in Michigan, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. He concluded his military service at the Pentagon, where he worked with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Manpower and Personnel. He retired in 1986 and went on to work as a consultant for various companies before settling in New River, Arizona in 1998 and then Sarasota, Florida in 2018. Among his many honors, Colonel Fredette received the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Outstanding Unit Award. John was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Geraldine “Gerri” (Hoelscher) Fredette and brother Edward “Fred” Fredette. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Troy and Rini Fredette of Tampa, Florida; his daughter and son-in-law, Danielle Fredette-Frie and Paul Frie of Surprise, Arizona; two grandchildren Vailynne Grace Fredette & Tiernan Patrick Gilbert-Fredette. In memory of John and in recognition of his 10+ year fight with Parkinson’s disease, the family kindly requests that any donations be made to the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona at https://www.supportbarrow.org/your-impact/programs-and-centers/parkinsons-and-movement-disorders/

Colonel John E. Fredette

November 17, 1940 - July 31, 2025