Submitted by: Dan Rich

Fred W. Baumgartner

Sept. 17, 1927 - Dec. 2, 2003

South Bend Tribune 12/6/2003

Fred W. Baumgartner, 76, of Camarillo, Calif., died peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 2, after an extended hospital stay. He was born Sept. 17, 1927, in South Bend, Ind. He graduated from Riley High School in 1945 and from the University of Notre Dame in 1951, with a degree in electrical engineering.

He moved his wife Nanette (Regard) and family in 1964 to California and settled in Camarillo in 1965. Unfortunately, Nanette passed away in January 1986. He married Jo Riedemann in 1987. He worked as a professional engineer for 45 years, with 40 of those years working for Walter Dorwin Teague Associates (WDTA). He retired from WDTA in 1992 and continued working as an engineering consultant. He was a founding member of Padre Serra Parish, Camarillo, and was an active member of the Formation, Pastoral and Stewardship Committees; was a member of the Knights of Columbus; a member of the board of directors and president of Catholic Charities of Ventura County, Calif.; a former member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Camarillo; was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE); and was a member of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. He was awarded Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

He is survived by his wife, Jo (Riedemann); his daughters, Mary Anne McCabe (James) of Oxnard, Kathleen Cordial (David) of Ventura, Jeanne Stone (Ken) of Irvine and Ruth of Irvine; a son, Fred (Andrea) of Chehalis, Wash.; stepchildren, Joanne Hayes (Patrick) of Camarillo, Janet Sandifer of Camarillo and Bill Riedemann of San Luis Obispo. Fred has 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who will truly miss him. He is also survived by his brothers, Charles (Elaine) of South Bend, Ind., James (Lila) of Watseka, Ill., and Richard of Vandalia, Mich.; and sisters, June (Larry) Brafman of Sobrante, Calif., and Sister Veronica, CSJ, of Tipton, Ind.; along with numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nanette (Regard); son, Thomas; daughter, Nancy; sister, Mary Katherine Skibbe; and by a brother, John Baumgartner.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. with vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, in Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo. Funeral services will be held at Padre Serra Parish on Monday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m., with burial following at Santa Clara Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to the Padre Serra Building Fund or to the St. John's Regional Medical Center Foundation.