In Memory of Fred Mischke
Posted by Shannon White
on May 06, 2014
Fred, 83, died May 1, 2014. He will be sorely missed by wife, Lori, of 30 years, two children, two grandchildren, family, friends and fellow Rotarians, with whom he had years of fellowship and fun. He was a dedicated Elkhart Rotarian.
In January of 1972 he joined the Elkhart Rotary club with the classification of mobile home manufacturing. He was vice-president and treasurer of Skyline Corporation, a national pioneer and leader of manufactured homes.
The "new guy" became immediately active, serving as chair of the Sergeant-at-Arms Committee. During the 1973-74 Rotary year Fred was elected to the board of directors and served as club president in 1976-77. No other member, before or since, advanced so rapidly to the club's top position.
Over the ensuing years, Fred worked on several service committees: Club, Community, International and Vocational. For the past eighteen years he has been chief money counter as Rotarians rang bells for the Salvation Army "Tree of Lights" campaign. With an extensive background in finance, he could count the money nearly as fast as the coin machine.
Because of failing health the past year Fred was unable to attend club functions but he never dropped his membership, never lost his zeal for " Service Above Self", and he kept in touch with club members via telephone calls and emails.