On Sunday, February 27, Fred Lasher passed away at the age of 80 surrounded by family. Fred was born in Poughkeepsie, NY, on August 19, 1941. He married the love of his life, Judy Gibbons in Bismarck, ND, in her parents living room on August 20, 1962. Fred and Judy had four children. Fred was a professional baseball player from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, California Angels, and the Detroit Tigers where he helped win the 1968 World Series by pitching two scoreless innings. After baseball, Fred made his home in Hatfield, Wisconsin, where he became an independent drywaller. Among his passions were getting the biggest fish, beating his sons and friends in the game of golf, playing monsters with his grandchildren, and coaching youth baseball. Fred will be remembered for his storytelling, falling through the ice several times while ice fishing, watching the movie The Thing hundreds of times and trying to get everyone to watch it with him, and his love for building snow slides for all the kids.
Fred was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Judy Lasher in 2004, and his daughter Wendy Merrick in 2012.
Fred is survived by his daughter, Cory (Steve Luiting) Lasher, and sons Todd (Laurie) and Zach (Kristie) Lasher, son-in-law Jim Merrick as well as ten grandchildren, two step grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
A celebration of life will take place this summer at Fred’s happy place – Lake Arbutus in Hatfield, Wisconsin. A special thank you to all the health care workers at Dove Health Care-West for their love and compassion to Fred in his last years of life.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Kidswishnetwork.org or hopeforchildrenfoundation.org.
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