Frederic L. Sjostrom, Jr.

Frederic L. Sjostrom, Jr. was born December 8, 1931 at Lawrence General Hospital, Lawrence, Massachusetts to Frederic and Ethel Sjostrom. He died March 28, 2021.

Fred first sang in the church choir at the age of 6 and never stopped singing until his body failed him. Fred attended Brown University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University.

In 1954, Fred joined the United States Air Force and while serving earned a Master Degree in Systems & Industrial Engineering from the University of Florida. Fred and Katy married in 1957 and remained devoted to each other for 64 years.

During his twenty-year military career Fred served two years flying in Vietnam while Katy and their children relocated to Clark Airbase in the Philippines. Fred brought a guitar home from the Far East, taught himself to play and became a joyful and fearless performer, with a beautiful baritone voice and a sense of time like a swiss watch. An avid golfer for decades, Fred hit four holes-in-one. After the Air Force he worked twenty years as an engineer for Oklahoma State University and The Sverdrup Corporation.

Fred was extremely proud of his Air Force career. He never failed to express his pride in and gratitude for the armed forces and never failed to thank a member of the military or veteran for their service.

Fred is survived by his wife, Katy, daughter Gretchen, sons Ric and Jon, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter Inger – there is no meeting in heaven he awaited more eagerly.

Fred and Katy have been faithful members of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Maryville for twenty years where Fred enjoyed singing in the choir. He was a kind, caring, patient and good man.

The family expresses their gratitude to the nurses of Blount Memorial Hospital Palliative Care Unit who gave such exceptional care to Fred.

There will be a Memorial Service at St. Andrews Episcopal Church at a later date.