Oscar Lee "Shorty" Fricke passed away at 7:28 pm on Friday, June 4, 2021, at his home surrounded by the love and support of his family in Higginsville, Missouri.
Shorty was granted an earthly life of seventy-five years and twenty-three days.
On May 12, 1946, in Higginsville, Missouri, the Lord blessed the home of Oscar and Mary Katherine (Wahn) Fricke with their son, Oscar Lee, later to be known as Shorty. It was not long awaiting when Shorty was happy to have a baby sister named Mary. He attended and graduated from Higginsville High School with the class of 1964. He proudly served in the United States Army after graduation.
Shorty was an auto mechanic and owning his business for many years. He also was a big part of the Higginsville Fire Department, and while Shorty had many friendships, he felt a brotherhood with the men he served with on the fire department.
Shorty was united in marriage to Peggy Sue Hurd on April 18, 1970, in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Higginsville, Missouri. This union was blessed with two daughters, Denice and Jennifer.
Shorty was a member of the American Legion and the Pontiac Club, and he was a lifelong and very active member with the Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Shorty later asked for the hand of Kathie Rose Wegener, and their union was blessed in the Confederate Chapel in Higginsville, Missouri, on May 21, 2000. Kathie survives the home.
Shorty was known for his dirt-track racing and racing street stock. He loved restoring his classic 1968 GTO. While Shorty was serving in the US Army and stationed in Germany, he won enough poker money to send back home to his mother and asked her to purchase a black 1968 GTO with his winnings. When he returned home, the untouched GTO was waiting for him in their garage. Shorty was enjoying his time restoring the 68 GTO and it remains in his garage today. Shorty was family-oriented and loved spending time with his children, and especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren play baseball and softball. He had earned his pin from the American Cross for his life-saving charitable donation of eleven gallons of blood. His presence will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
Shorty is survived by his wife, Kathie Rose Fricke; two daughters, Denice Christine Duane and her husband Devon of Warrensburg, Missouri, and Jennifer Lynn Johnson of Dixon, Missouri; a sister, Mary M. Siard and her husband Charlie of Gladstone, Missouri; two grandchildren, Emily Nicole Johnson of Dixon, Missouri, and Garrett Lee Johnson of Dixon, Missouri.
He was predeceased by his parents Oscar and Mary Fricke.
A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at 10:00 am, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Higginsville, Missouri, with Pastor Kurt Brandon officiating the service.
A visitation for family and friends to celebrate the life of Shorty will be on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Higginsville, Missouri.
We will leave in procession after the funeral services to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri, where Shorty will be placed to eternal rest. Full Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion and the United States Army.
Pallbearers: Garrett Johnson, Eric Gorman, Devon Duane, Wayne Loges, Delbert Goetz, Danny Duffey, and Mike Davenport.
Honorary Pallbearers: Mike Goettling, Kevin Warren, and Kyle Warren.
As an expression of sympathy and in memory of Shorty,
Memorial Contributions may be made to Higginsville Fire Department, Immanuel Lutheran Building for Christ Fund, or The American Brain Tumor Association.
Kaiser-Wiegers Funeral Home
