Frederick Harvey Doege passed away peacefully related to complications from a long battle with Parkinson’s on March 13, 2023. He was 82 years old. Born on May 8, 1940, to Harvey and Hilda Doege, Fred grew up in Sheboygan, WI with his younger sister Elizabeth (Landwehr). Fred graduated from Central High School in Sheboygan, and then attended his beloved University of Wisconsin, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Fred would become a lifetime Wisconsin Badger alumni and fan, proudly displaying school memorabilia around his house and wearing hats, shirts, and jackets with his school’s logo.
After college, Fred served in the Air Force, reaching the rank of Captain. He was on active duty during the Korean War, using his talents of organization and attention to detail to excel as a Supply Officer.
After four years serving in the Air Force, he was honorably discharged and started a career as an HR manager for JC Penney’s. Fred met and fell in love with a pretty sales associate he hired into his Citrus Heights, CA Penney’s store, Barbara Stuesser. A single mother with three pre-teens/teens, Barbara was the love of his life. They married March 21, 1974.
Barbara often reflected on the special kind of man he was to love her kids as his own.
In 1980, Fred was tasked to manage the Penney’s in Colusa, CA. After successfully managing this store for a number of years, Fred left Penney’s and started his own business selling advertising specialties for Kaeser and Blair, quickly becoming a top salesman.
Fred earned the respect and loyalty of his customers. He valued the relationships he built over decades with many business owners in Colusa. To him they were not only customers, but his friends. He took great pride in providing them with excellent customer service, often going the extra mile to fulfill their needs. He knew his customers personally, meeting weekly with a group at the local coffee shop, swapping stories and sharing lives.
Fred’s passion for sports was a big part of his life. Throughout his life he avidly supported his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin Badgers. He was particularly interested in basketball and football, watching games and calling lifetime friend Richard Sorenson, in Sheboygan WI to discuss outcomes. Fred also could be found on weekends watching the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49er football, and Sacramento Kings basketball.
Fred and Barbara considered their Colusa community an adopted hometown. Fred was active with Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce, participating in many fundraising events benefiting the community. Fred and Barbara even represented Colusa County as volunteers one year at the State Fair in Sacramento. They were members of the Country Club and golfed as often as they could.
Fred’s wife, Barbara, and our family would like to express our profound appreciation to the town of Colusa for all of the town’s support, loyalty, and friendship towards Fred and Barbara over the years.
Fred is survived by his wife Barbara Doege; three stepchildren, Jeanne Wilkins (Lyndol), Jerry Stuesser (Kathy), and Jay Stuesser; his sister Elizabeth Landwehr (Rene); niece Lori Miller (Eric); nephew Robert Landwehr (Melissa); sisters-in-law Pat Dziczkowski (Dean), Jane Kosharek, Nancy Willert (Ken); seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
He is predeceased by his parents, Harvey and Hilda, his sister Joanne who died in infancy, and his brother-in-law Bob Kosharek.
In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations made in Fred’s name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research. www.MichaelJFox.org. ■
PUBLISHED 03/23/2023 • COLUSA COUNTY PIONEER REVIEW #2023-0206