Fred C. Haynes

Memorial Celebration of Life Services for Fred Haynes, 92, of Lenox, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, at the Arising Methodist Church in Lenox. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday at the church. Interment will be held at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox with military honors.

Memorials may be given in Fred’s name to be divided into Fred’s three favorite things. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox where we ‘Celebrate Life’.

Fred Clarence Haynes was born April 13, 1931, and spent life until graduation from Lenox High School in 1949, at the corner of J13 and Highway 25. Randal L Haynes and Ethel May Matzen Haynes were his parents, and he joined an older sister, Doris. Later, Marcia, Margaret and Janice joined the family.

Fred attended country school on J13, and high school in Lenox. He participated in football, basketball and baseball. He could proudly say six generations of Haynes family members played sports in Lenox. He worked in the summers for Gerald and Lois Scott and Dean and Betty Davenport. He attended Maryville College for the first quarter but the draft was looming, so he enlisted in the Navy in 1950. He attended boot camp in San Diego, California, on the U.S.S. Larities. He made lifelong friends while stationed in Guam during the Korean Conflict and maintained those relationships until his passing.

In 1953, a shipmate, Bobby Woods, introduced him to Joyce Velte and their first date was to the Lawrence Welk Show. They married on Christmas Day in 1953. Except for a short time in Texas, most of their married life was spent in Iowa, first farming in College Springs for Paul Farquar. Farming was in Fred’s blood. He worked for Barker Farms and then the Bill Terry farm east of Lenox for the remainder of his time, until moving to town in 2005. Life was busy with farming, raising livestock and raising six children.

Fred was Legion commander from 1971-72 during the Lenox Centennial. He was on the Lenox School Board from 1978-1984 and served as president from 1982-1984. He also served on several boards at the First Methodist Church in Lenox.

Fred was an avid sports fan. He and Joyce attended hundreds of games, musicals and band concerts at the Lenox School. They also attended events at many other schools, watching their grandchildren, even as far as Arkansas.

Fred never met a stranger, loved to visit and loved to tease anyone he encountered. He was so proud of his family. He and Joyce traveled to most of the U.S. states and Fred made sure Joyce was able to visit her family in Texas every year, sometimes twice a year, a promise he made to her when they moved to Iowa. They believe they went to Texas 93 times. Fred was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and neighbor. He was a golfer and a fisherman, but most of all a farmer.

Fred passed away Nov. 16, 2023, at the age of 92 Years and six months. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 69 years and 11 months, Joyce Velte Haynes; six children: Jeannine (Paul) Shipman, Kathi (Craig) Braby, Debbie Miller, Mark (Tammy) Haynes, Laurie (Nick) Evans and Matt (Margaret) Haynes, 15 grandchildren and spouses; 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters. Also mourning his passing are his sister, Margaret Bolinger, along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Fred in death were his granddaughter, Courtni Jensen and his son-in-law, Alan Miller.

We will forever hold the precious memories of Fred in our hearts.

May he be at peace in God’s loving care.