Frederick Adrian Zwemer

Frederick Adrian Zwemer, 89, of Traverse City passed away peacefully at Hospice House surrounded by his family on May 8, 2024.

He was born on November 13, 1934, in Lowell, MI to the late Adrian and Mary (Crouch) Zwemer. Honorably, he served in the United States Army. He married Anne Elizabeth Crossman on June 27, 1959, in Detroit, MI and together they lovingly raised three wonderful children, Charles, Douglas, and Wendy.

Fred worked as a mechanical engineer for General Motors in the Chevrolet Metal Castings Division for 22 years. Later in his career, while working for a machine tool manufacturer, he helped open the Asian market with the sale of the very first automotive press line. He was a member of both the SAE and AMSE.

In retirement, Fred volunteered in many ways throughout Northwest Michigan. He loved classical music, and he served the TCSO in several capacities over two decades. An accomplished woodworker and model maker, he built furniture and many museum-quality model ships. He served as past director at the Music House Model City and Wood Shop and worked closely with the Peninsula Community Library during the transformation from its home within an elementary school to its current free-standing structure. He also found time to facilitate a pre-engineering and technology program (MTA) in schools throughout Grand Traverse County.

He loved the open water and sailed for most of his life. He built his first working sailboat in high school, competed in eight Port Huron-Mackinac races, and introduced countless friends and extended family to the simple pleasure of harnessing the wind to explore the Great Lakes by sailboat.

Above all, Fred's number one priority and love was his family. Sharing time with them was his life's greatest joy. Fred will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by Anne (his wife of 64 years), his children Charles (Kristin) Zwemer, Douglas (Jennifer) Zwemer, and Wendy (Dan) Kolosar, grandchildren, Gordie, Finn, Hannah (Manuel) Zwemer-Huerta, Jack, Taylor and Nathan, and many other loving family members and friends.

Fred is preceded in death by his parents and his Sister Marian Ouellette.

A memorial gathering celebrating Fred's life will take place from 2-4pm on June 8th, 2024, at Slate. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Peninsula Community Library at 2893 Island View Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Kindly share thoughts and memories with his family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com