The Rev. Frederick G. Overdier

The Reverend Frederick George Overdier of Traverse City passed away quietly into eternal life on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at home in the presence of family, following an extended battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, the Rev. Ruth Kilgus Overdier; by his four children and their families: Frederick C. Overdier (Magic) of Caro, MI; Joel Overdier (Bernadette Caldwell) of Madison, WI; Barbara Overdier (James Muratzki) of Traverse City; and Michael Overdier (Roxana) of Ann Arbor, MI; by his siblings: Faith Pfeiffer (Rod) of Kenosha, WI; Grace Deibert and Carol Overdier, both of Racine, WI; Timothy Overdier of Northport, MI; and Beth Overdier of Mukwonago, WI; by his grandchildren: Sarah Hudson (Brad) of Columbus, OH; Anna Caldwell-Overdier of Madison, WI; Jacalyn, Michael I., and Eric Overdier, all of Ann Arbor, MI. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. George M. Overdier and Adeline Groenke Overdier, and by his sister, Cynthia Overdier Boyd (David). Pastor Fred, as he was known to his friends, attended Carthage College where he met his wife Ruth. Fred continued at Northwestern Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN and was ordained in 1963. He served as a full-time pastor at Lutheran churches in Milwaukee, WI; Southampton, PA; Kalamazoo, MI; Traverse City, MI; and Birmingham, MI; and as an interim or part-time pastor to numerous Michigan congregations following retirement in 2001. Formative years growing up in Rocky Boy, MT, and Phillips, WI provided a foundation for Fred’s life of service to others. Whether participating in the Boy Scouts of northern WI; migrant ministry for the National Council of Churches in Toledo, OH; serving on the Interfaith Round Table of greater Detroit, and the Executive Council of the Michigan Synod; or acting as a liaison for community issues in Kalamazoo township and Traverse City, MI - he was always interested in finding creative ways to serve the community and the ministry of the whole church. Pastor Fred was known and loved by family and friends for his outgoing personality, his caring ministry to people of all ages, faiths, and walks of life, and for his passion in honoring all of God’s creation, including planting trees wherever he went. Visitation will take place at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Friday, May 3, 2019 from 6:00−8:00 pm. A celebration of Fred's life will take place at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Traverse City with visitation at noon, worship at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2019, Dr. Craig A. Satterlee, Bishop of the ELCA Northwest Michigan Synod, presiding. Special music will be provided prior to the service. In keeping with Fred's wishes, cremation has occurred; the family will have a private graveside interment in Northport, MI at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to support the memory of Pastor Fred consider a donation to the mission of ELCA World Hunger. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Fred’s family at his tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

The Rev. Frederick G. Overdier

June 20, 1938 - April 13, 2019