Brad Dee Fredrickson

Former Plainville resident Brad Dee Fredrickson, age 61, of Kansas City, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021, at his home.

He was born Nov. 12, 1959 in Oberlin, Kan. Brad and Gayle were married in 1980. They then moved to Warrensburg, Mo., while Brad was on a wrestling scholarship at the University of Central Missouri. After graduating, Brad began a career in education. He taught for one year in Lawson, Mo. He then taught for three years in Topeka at Hayden High School. The family moved to Plainville in 1987. Brad taught PE and health and coached wrestling at Plainville High School for 15 years. Brad then took a job as Athletic Director at Independence High School in Independence. He held this position for 14 years. After retiring, he and his wife Gayle moved to Kansas City to be closer to both of their children.

Brad had a lifelong passion for the sport of wrestling. He wrestled for Oberlin High School where he was a state champion in 1977. He wrestled at Colby Community College and the University of Central Missouri. He competed for and coached several national and junior national teams. While coaching in Plainville, he led his teams to three state championships, one second-place team, and four third-place teams. He coached 12 individual state champions. He was named the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association 3-2-1A Coach of the Year in 1988 and 2000. He was also named the Kansas Wrestling Officials Association Coach of the Year in 1992. He was inducted into the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014. In addition to his accomplishments as a wrestler and coach, Brad's greatest source of pride was in the many wrestlers that he coached that went on to coach themselves and stay involved in the sport.

Brad also enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. However, Brad's greatest joy was his family. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He always made every effort to attend his grandchildren's sports and activities, and he was very proud of all of their accomplishments.

Brad was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years Gayle of the home; one son, Cole Jacob Fredrickson and his wife Angie of Marysville; one daughter, Carissa Ann Sanders and her husband Will of St. Charles, Mo.; one sister, Kristi Gallentine and her husband Gene of Norcatur; and six grandchildren: Grace, Gable, Julia, Gavin, Metabel and Clara.

His Celebration of Life service will be at 2 p.m., on Saturday, October 16, 2021 and the family will receive friends after the service, both at the Edwardsville Community Center, 696 S. 3rd St., Edwardsville, KS 66111.