“Wow! That was incredible. On to new adventures”
Walter “Wally” Fredricks, 90, of Wind Lake, passed away on Aug. 13, 2025. He was born on July 19, 1935, in Philadelphia, son of German immigrants Carl and Frieda Fredricks.
Wally graduated from Springfield High School, and from La Salle College with a BA degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Philadelphia, where he played basketball and participated in the NCAA final four tournament in 1955. He earned a Ph.D. degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore after a postdoctoral fellowship position in the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Professor Fredricks held a teaching/research position in the Department of Biology at Marquette University for 34 years, with nine years as their department chair. He had many family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and former students that added richness to his life throughout his years.
Nicknamed “Big Wally” for his height (6’6”), he was also head and shoulders above in intelligence, kindness, character, creativity, and wit, and to many people he felt larger than life. His life was filled with extraordinary experiences, events, and people; inspiring those he knew and he was always up for an adventure or for telling a good yarn or joke.
Wally is survived by his beloved wife, LaVerne “Vernie” Boivin; children, Kathie (Jeff) Walsh and Linda McKinley; stepchildren Steve (Beth) LoDuca, Julie Fulton, Gina Wade, and Chris (Kim) LoDuca; and his grandchildren, Devan Walsh, Ryan McKinley, Steven (Kristen) LoDuca, Cassidy (David) Dueker, Joseph LoDuca, Nicholas Fulton, and Dominic Wade; along with nieces and nephews.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents; dearly loved wife, Sylvia (McKay); son, Eric Fredricks; granddaughter, Kalea Walsh; siblings, Elizabeth, Carl, and Margaret; and son-in-law, Brian Wade.
A celebration of Wally’s life will be held at Bruno’s Restaurant located at 730 Cornerstone Crossing, Waterford, on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. which would have been Wally’s and Vernie’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. All who knew him are welcome to pay their respects or share a good story.
In lieu of flowers, donations to your favorite charity would be greatly appreciated.
The family has created a platform for sharing memories, stories, and photos of Big Wally at: Wally Fredricks Memorial Wall.
