Friedrich Karl-Heinz “Fred” Hennemann — a kind man who loved God and his wife and girls — died after a long illness on Friday, April 30, 2021. He was 86.

He was born in Koeppern, Germany on June 28, 1934. After World War II, he apprenticed as a cabinet maker. He emigrated to the United States with his mother and sister in 1951, settling in Queens, New York.

He married Rita Lorenz, a fellow German immigrant, in 1957. Fred, Rita, and their daughters relocated to Albany County in 1967. For many years, he served as maintenance supervisor at Albany Medical Center before retiring in 1983.

“After retirement, he used his talents to make beautiful cabinetry,” his family wrote in a tribute. “He was a determined problem solver who taught himself how to make and fix nearly anything.

“Fred was an avid world traveler who enjoyed seeing God’s creation and discovering interesting locales.  Besides travels within the U.S., he and Rita made numerous trips overseas to places such as Germany, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and China and made friends wherever they went. He also learned about geography and various cultures through his extensive stamp collection.

He attended the First Baptist Church of Westerlo for about 50 years, including service as a Christian Service Brigade leader.  Friends remember him as “the best dad, a talented, hard-working, engaging, intelligent, curious, well-traveled, disciplined, and kind man who loved God and his wife and girls.”

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Friedrich Karl-Heinz “Fred” Hennemann is survived by his loving wife, Rita; by his daughters, Linda Rabeler and her husband, Paul, of Clifton Park, and Karen McDonald and her husband, James, of Altamont; and by his four grandchildren: Christina and Lauren Rabeler, Erika (née McDonald) Bryant, and James McDonald.

His father, Heinrich Hennemann, died before him, as did his mother, Maria (née Wenz), and sister, Margot Kosich. Margot’s husband, Martin Kosich, survives her. 

A funeral service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 5 at the First Baptist Church of Westerlo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Capital City Rescue Mission, 259 South Pearl St., Albany, NY 12202.