Willard Frederick "Fred" Deater, Iii

Willard Frederick “Fred” Deater III, 83, of Meadville, died Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Marquette Hospice House.  A son of Willard Frederick Deater Jr. and Lucille B. Greenfield Deater, Fred was born in Meadville on August 5, 1938.  He married Stella O. Leszek Deater on January 28, 1966.  She predeceased him on May 4, 2010.

Fred is survived by his three children:  Tonya Hasenkopf, her husband, Brian of Meadville, and their sons, Elliott Hasenkopf, of Jersey City, NJ, and Spencer (Brooke) Hasenkopf, with his first great-grandchild due in December, of Raleigh, NC; Larisa Ramich, her husband, Craig, and their children, Chloe and Aidan, of Fairfax, VA; and Christian Deater and his son, Carson, of Tampa, FL.  He is also survived by two brothers: Jon Deater, of Linesville, and David Deater and his wife, Penny, of Linesville; and one sister: Mary Wheeler, of Linesville.  Other family members include several nieces, nephews and cousins.  He also leaves behind two faithful feline companions, Rosie and Cassie.

Fred was a 1956 graduate of Linesville High School and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 until he was honorably discharged in 1958.  Fred was an avid learner and received an Associate of Science Degree in Management Technology from the University of Pittsburgh, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration/Economics from Edinboro University, and completed coursework at Allegheny College and Penn State University.  Fred retired as Corporate Controller from Advanced Cast Products in 2008, following 48 years of employment.  In his younger years, Fred volunteered for many organizations including Little League Baseball, Meadville Jaycees and Junior Achievement.  Together with Stella, Fred enjoyed family vacations to Florida, motorcycle trips throughout much of the country, and summer afternoons on Conneaut Lake.  Fred loved to tell jokes and was passionate about American history, sports, and sports cars.  In his later years, Fred generously cared for those who cared for him, and especially valued time spent with his closest friends.

The family would like to thank those who lovingly touched our lives and helped care for Fred in his recent years.  The exceptional nurses at Marquette Hospice House provided attentive care with compassion towards him and his family in his final days.  At Fred’s request, funeral services will not be held.  He will be laid to rest next to Stella at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville, where memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net.  To honor Fred, please consider donating to Hospice of Crawford County, (for the Marquette Hospice House), 766 Liberty Street, Meadville, PA 16335.