Frederick K. Lacher

Frederick Krumrey Lacher was born August 16, 1920, and spent a happy and adventurous childhood in Long Island, New York.  The summer he graduated from high school, his father arranged for Fred and his older brother to go to sea working on a Merchant Marine freighter.  Pre-war tensions and Hitler’s rise in Europe forced the ship to reroute from the Mediterranean to a working tour that saw Fred hauling freight in many Asian ports.  A well-traveled Fred returned to the US that autumn, and enrolled in the Carnagie Institute of Technology (CIT), where he joined the Naval ROTC program, and pursued a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.  With the US’ involvement in World War II looming, CIT accelerated their collegiate program, and Fred graduated early with his degree and a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.  In the spring of 1943, while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, he met and fell in love with Marguerite Hill.  He was stationed in Seattle in 1944, and Marguerite travelled by train to Seattle for their wedding there.  Fred was deployed to the Pacific Theater in March 1944 – and he and Marguerite would be separated until peace was declared.  During wartime, he was stationed at several naval aviation support sites in Hawaii.  He served in the Pacific Fleet aboard the Escort Carrier USS Altamaha CE-18, where he and his shipmates saw action and survived the massive typhoon of December 18, 1944 that damaged or destroyed many ships in the US fleet.  He returned to the US in October 1945, and resigned his commission in 1946, having attained the rank of Lieutenant.

Fred and Marguerite moved to booming Akron, Ohio in 1946 when he was hired by B.F. Goodrich to work in their legal department.  Fred worked all day supporting his growing family (a son John, and daughter Rennie), while attending night school to study law.  He received his law degree from the University of Akron in 1950.  He began work in the legal department of the National Rubber Machinery Company (NRM), and later was hired by a local law firm, specializing in patent law.  Fred completed his career of counsel with Brouse McDowell.  Throughout his working life, Fred also worked tirelessly for many charitable and community organizations serving Akron, Summit County, and Ohio.  He has delighted in his family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Marguerite passed away in 1990 and is greatly missed. 

To his family’s great joy, Fred later married Linda Long Reest, and began a new and wonderful chapter of his life.  And, what a love story it was - the beginning of a remarkable chapter filled with adventure, and unwavering devotion and love.  It was the kind of love that others admired and hoped to one day experience.  Together, Fred and Linda traveled the world, collecting memories and capturing them in more photographs than one could count.  Their love was a testament to the joy of shared dreams and the beauty of finding a soulmate later in life.  Above all, Fred cherished his family.  Time spent with his grandchildren was such a joy to him – offering them wisdom, warmth, and a steady, loving presence.  Fred was proud and humbled that two of his grandchildren chose to follow in his footsteps by serving in the U.S. Navy, continuing a legacy of service and dedication.

In Fred’s final years, he was surrounded by Linda’s unwavering love and care.  Her strength, devotion and fierce commitment to him was not just seen, but felt by all who witnessed it.  She surrounded him with a love so profound it spoke volumes without words and in those final moments, she gave him the greatest gift of all: peace, and her steadfast presence and all of her love.

We are especially grateful for the love and support of Fred and Linda’s church family at St. Paul’s.  Your friendships, prayers, visits, and shared memories have meant more than words can express.

We are also deeply grateful to the incredible team at Ohio Living Home Health Care and Hospice, our angels on earth.  Your gentle and tireless care and friendship gave peace to Fred and strength to our family.  You made a difficult journey more bearable, and we are forever thankful.

Fred will be remembered for his gentle strength and enduring spirit.  His life was a tapestry of meaningful moments, stitched together with kindness, loyalty, and a quiet grace that touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Myrtle Lacher; first wife, Margeurite; brothers, Halvor and Henry Lacher; son-in-law, Jim Langman, he is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda; children, John (Nancy) Lacher of Delaware, OH, Rennie Langman of CO, Cheri (David) Gerwig of Doylestown, OH, Jeff (Kendra) Reest of Holland, MI, Pam (Pete) DeWilde of Holland, MI; grandchildren, Jessica (Nate Williams) Lacher, Michael (Mikala Bierma) Lacher, Kirk Langman, Erik Langman, Brittaney (Josh) Delo, Morgan Reest, Chad (Michelle) DeWilde, Brian (Alicia) DeWilde, Tyler (Kalie) Gerwig, Austin (Grace) Gerwig: many great grandchildren; other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1361 W. Market St., Akron, OH, 44313 with Rev. Mark Pruitt, officiating.  A light lunch will immediately follow the service and then inurnment with military honors will be held at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m.  In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice, 83 N. Miller Rd., Suite 101, Fairlawn, OH, 44333 or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.  Online obituary and guest registry are available at www.zakmonbarrenfh.com

(Zak-Thacker & Monbarren, 330-658-2211)

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