Frederick Sartori "Fred" Lennon

SIOUX CITY -- Frederick Sartori Lennon of Sioux City died peacefully after a brief and sudden illness due to cancer on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, at a Sioux City hospital. He was surrounded by all 11 of his children and his wife, Margie, who were able to comfort him during the last hours of his life.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Merlin J. Schrad will officiate, Monsignor Roger J. Augustine will serve as homilist and with the Rev. Roger Madden of First United Methodist Church in attendance. Burial of the cremated remains will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 6 to 8 p.m. today, with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Northside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .
Fred was born on the Fourth of July, 1925, in Sioux City to Frederick W. & Elizabeth (Sartori) Lennon where he lived most of his 84 years. He attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and Trinity Seminary for high school. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and served until 1945.
He married Catherine "Katie" Adele Sulzbach in 1943. They raised their 12 children in Sioux City and enjoyed 65 years of marriage together until her death in September 2008. Fred and Katie lived in Florida and Fort Collins, Colo., for several years during retirement and returned to Sioux City in 2003.
Fred Lennon married Margaret "Margie" Ann Warner Schwinn on May 2, 2009. They spent a wonderful year together.
Fred was long associated with the Sioux City Stockyards. He was first a buyer with Cudahy Meat Packing and then worked in partnership with his father and R.L. Duggan for decades. He established El Fredo Pizza in 1957, which has been continued by his son, John B. Lennon. He briefly sold real estate during his time in Florida.
Fred lived a rich and full life and believed that children and family were the most important gifts we have. Every year, he was involved with his sons in their participation with the Soap Box Derby in Sioux City. He was an active and devout member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
Fred Lennon is survived by nine sons and two daughters, Daniel T. Lennon and Eve of Los Angeles, Calif., Timothy B. Lennon and Lisa of San Francisco, Calif., Robert K. Lennon of Los Angeles, Catherine E. Frisch and Tom of Sioux City, Deborah Lennon Pottorf and Jerry of Fort Collins, Colo., John B. Lennon and Kip of Sioux City, Charles "Cal" A. Lennon and Theresa of Omaha, Michael P. Lennon and Connie of Aurora, Colo., Kelly M. Lennon, M.D. and Teresa of Parker, Colo., Mark E. Lennon and Miez of Sioux City and Terry Lennon and Loren of Denver, Colo.; 25 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; his older brother, Charles Lennon of Tucson, Ariz.; his brother-in-law, Richard Sulzbach of Sioux City; and sister-in-law, Elva Sulzbach of Sioux City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Katie; his son, Fred W. Lennon who was killed in Vietnam in 1967; and two sisters, Virginia Dealy and Elizabeth "Betty" Hamilton.
Memorials may be directed to Heelan High School, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.