Frederick C. Streich

Son of Olga King Streich and Elmer Irwin Streich, Fred was born the 11^th of October 1946 in Oklahoma City. He and his sister, Mary Deane Streich, were blessed with a warm and nurturing childhood during which they learned the value of supportive family and close friendships, the satisfaction of being happy and productive, and the importance of enjoying life. Fred made friends easily and many of those closest to him were friends for life – from the scrappy neighborhood kids with whom he learned to hunt, fish, catch turtles, work on cars, and create boyhood mischief to those he met  later in life in school, at work, on the golf course, hiking and climbing, skiing and birding, sailing and windsurfing, and with whom he continued to explore the world.

Fred was a proud and loyal alum of Nichols Hills Elementary School, Casady Middle School, and Harding High School. He attended Menlo College and then received his degree from Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma. It was at Harding High that Fred met his future wife, Janet, when he cut class to go to lunch with a friend and some younger students. Sitting across from Fred in a booth at the Split-T, Janet knew she would marry that guy “because he didn’t talk too much, and when he did say something, it was worth listening to.” They dated for six years before getting married. 

Fred and Janet quickly moved to Colorado, where they were always passionate in their love for the Rocky Mountains. Fred soon summited all fifty-four of Colorado’s Official 14ers (many more than once!) with the hard-core and determined group of friends he met through his work. Throughout his life, Fred loved all things outdoors: hiking, skiing, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, golfing, traveling, as well as hunting with his father-in-law, son, bird dogs and many friends. Later in life, he became an enthusiastic birdwatcher. Fred was thrilled to share these activities with his children, Greer and Chuck, then his five grandsons as they also took up many of the same interests and passions. Fred spent hours on the golf course with family and friends from an early age up until his death, even as his handicap increased.

During his long and successful career in construction management and real estate development, Fred frequently partnered with lifelong friends. In 1978 Fred designed and built a house in Vail, Colorado. Over the past forty-five years, he and his family enjoyed some of their happiest memories there, and he was on the ski slopes of Vail just hours before his death. Fred also shared his wife Janet’s love for a family cottage on Pelican Lake in Minnesota, where they spent their summers.

Starting with his childhood pet, Scotty, Fred always loved dogs. English setters Sooner and Sam graced the home as Fred and Janet raised a family, and they eventually took in their son’s two Katrina refugee dogs.

Fred was also an avid Sooner. In grade school, he even attended games wearing the sports coat and tie that his wise and wonderful parents deemed appropriate attire for a young boy going to a football game in Norman, Oklahoma in the 1950s! 

Fred died at home with his wife of almost 53 years on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The week preceding his death, Fred and Janet spent in Vail skiing with their son, Chuck and his wife Erin, along with grandsons Freddie and Hans. The two weeks previous to that Fred and Janet spent travelling in Iceland with their grandchildren, Rhys and Eoin. Fred is also survived by his sister Mary, daughter Greer with her husband, Francis, and grandson Aidan. 

Celebrations of Fred’s full and satisfying life are being planned in both Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Oklahoma City. Donations in Fred’s name can be made to the Sooner Club (use the link, or checks can be mailed to Sooner Club 1185 Asp Ave. Room 150 Norman, OK 73019) or Pelican Lake Sailing School (use the link, or checks can be mailed to Pelican Lake Sailing School c/o Ryan Grindeland PO Box 7492 Fargo, ND 58106).

We are all grateful for the time we spent Building Memories together, and we love you, Ricky, Fred, Dad, Pudge! We will miss your calm, your common sense, and your steady presence. Boomer Sooner!