Fred Kaatz's Obituary
Obituary Fred Kaatz
Frederick Irwin Kaatz was born November 25, 1954, a Thanksgiving baby, in Denver Colorado. He was the second of three sons born to Morton Francis Kaatz and Idamae Gordon Kaatz. He was raised attending Hebrew school and had a Bar Mitzvah at 13.
Fred was gifted even at a young age of having a mechanical mind and could fix and repair just about anything. He worked for a family hardware business before venturing into many entrepreneurial endeavors. He sold advertising, had a mortgage business for many years, made and sold gourmet beef jerky, had a green house where he grew sprouts and wheat grass for local grocery stores, bartered and traded, and ran a tanning salon in Homer, Alaska.
He had many challenges in his life, including having a 20 year drug addiction which he successfully recovered from for the last 31 years of his life. He had 6 marriages and 5 divorces, resulting in two children, his son Gabriel, and daughter Audrey. By his sixth wife, Carol, he became the step father to 6 children and grandfather to 23 cherished grandchildren. They celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary the day he started hospice care.
Fred became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 41 and he was a faithful member, enjoying many callings, last of which was a much loved opportunity to teach 10-11 year olds in Primary. He and Carol also served in the baptistry at the Mt Timpanogos Temple for the last 8 months of his life, an opportunity which he cherished. He faithfully listened to podcasts weekly of the Come Follow Me curriculum of the church and credited it for his increased faith, testimony and love of his Savior, Jesus Christ.
Fred always had a great love for Steamboat Springs, CO, where he fished as a child and lived as an adult. He also lived in Homer, AK, which was another favorite place and where he made many cherished friends. He and Carol loved the Alaskan lifestyle, fishing for salmon and halibut and chopping firewood. After moving from Alaska, they traveled the world doing international house sitting for 6 1/2 years. They had many wonderful adventures together and saw amazing places. After Covid changed the ease of travel, they bought a motorhome to live in. They settled in American Fork UT and began working with Carol’s son at his printing warehouse in Lehi. They enjoyed being near many of their family, especially their grandchildren. Fred found great joy in being a grandfather and loved them as his own. He loved to play his guitar and sing and often played at local open mic nights. His favorite band was the Beatles. He also loved to buy and sell cars, and in recent years had a Mini Cooper obsession. He was always looking for the next deal! He flew to California and drove back a car two weeks before his passing.
Fred was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in May 2023 and decided to fight it with natural methods and a strict diet change. He threw himself into this fight as he did with all challenges he had overcome in his life, but in spite of his efforts and commitment, he succumbed to the cancer on Nov 11, 2023. He will be greatly missed by many who knew and loved him, especially his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Carol, son, Gabriel Kaatz (Jonna Scaringa), daughter, Audrey Kaatz White, older brother Stanley (Kathy) Kaatz, and step-children Rachel (Greg) Denning, Ryan (Melinda) Christensen, Rebecca (Rob) Clayton, Roxanne Christensen(Chris Knoles), Rhett (Heather) Christensen, and Riley (Lee) Christensen, and 23 beloved grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Richard.
Services will be held in person at 11 AM on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023 at the LDS meetinghouse at 165 N 350 W St, American Fork, UT 84003
Viewing will be held the same day 9–10:30 AM.
If you are unable to join us in person, services will be viewable at this Zoom link through the app or a web browser.
Time: Nov 21, 2023 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82978059337?pwd=f4DRuhLvaEHY9K2qUMGgkKKMdhAhEd.1
Meeting ID: 829 7805 9337
Passcode: jafZ9M
In lieu of flowers, donations received will be applied toward funeral services. Venmo to @roxychristensen
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