Longtime Aberdeen resident Frederick Albert Bruener, 78, of Olympia, passed away on Jan. 29, 2021, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. He was the second son born to Theodore and Martha Bruener in Seattle, Washington, on June 21, 1942.

Throughout his life, Fred was known for his love of his family, his dogs and his community. He was faithful and strong, kind and courageous, determined, and always acted with the integrity he expected of others.

Fred was raised, along with his brothers Ted and Mike, in Aberdeen. He attended Saint Mary’s School and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1960, where he was an excellent athlete lettering in football and basketball. Fred began his college education at Grays Harbor Community College before transferring to Seattle University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Fred was a cadet in the Seattle University ROTC program and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army serving in the Adjutant General Corps at Sandia Base in New Mexico.

Fred married the love of his life, Arlene (nee Kinssies) in 1966 at Saint Mary’s Church. After his time in the Army, Fred returned to Aberdeen with his wife and young family in 1969. He served his hometown community becoming a trusted CPA and partner at Aiken and Sanders until his retirement. It was common to see Fred and his beloved golden retrievers walking down Broadway or playing tennis at Sam Benn Park. He was an active member of the Aberdeen Rotary Club, serving as club president twice and taking great pride in his involvement with the club including the building of the Rotary Log Pavilion in Morrison Riverfront Park. Fred was a lifetime, active member of Saint Mary’s parish. He drew strength and peace from his Catholic faith.

A devoted and honorable family man, Fred’s children and grandchildren knew they could always count on him for encouragement as they faced life’s challenges. He was an avid hunter, angler and golfer. Whether it was spending summers with his children hiking and fishing near the family cabin on Lake Quinault, or duck and goose hunting at Laidlaw Island and on annual trips to Alberta, or his annual salmon fishing trip with his sons in British Columbia, Fred enjoyed sharing his love for the outdoors with family and friends.

Fred was preceded in death by his son Eric. Fred’s legacy will live on with his wife Arlene; his daughter, Maria Rogers; his son, Mark and daughter-in-law Traci Bruener; his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Adam Uhler; his 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; as well as his brothers, Ted and Mike Bruener.

A funeral mass celebrating Fred’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. Interment will immediately follow at Fern Hill Cemetery. To comply with current Covid regulations, those wishing to attend the mass are encouraged to contact St. Mary’s Church to confirm attendance. 360 532-8300.

In lieu of flowers, the Bruener family requests that donations be made to Saint Mary’s School on Fred’s behalf.


Note: All obituaries listed here are copied in their entirety from their original source. Since those sources do not make these available in their archives, we have re-posted them here. Some information may be outdated.

Click here to return to In Memoriam.