Obituary: Fred R. Sigrist

Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory.

Fred R. Sigrist

Fred R. Sigrist, age 89, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully, Saturday, December 20, 2025, at home, with his loving daughter, Diana, by his side.

Born August 2, 1936 in Athens, Ohio, he was the son of Frederick R. and Juanita (Davidson) Sigrist. He was a proud and honorably discharged veteran of the United States Air Force, serving from 1955-1958, with the 28th Field Maintenance Squadron. For many years, Fred worked as a purchasing agent and later as a comptroller for Sears Roebuck Company in Chicago.

Fred enjoyed riding motorcycles, but music was his true passion, and he took great pride in having his own recording studio in his home, where he made tape recordings and demos for musicians for many years.

Surviving are his children, Dreama Sigrist of Morris, and Diana Knudsen of Oak Forest, IL; his grandchildren, Zachary Thorne, Stephanie (fiancé Zack Kopacka) Thorne, Karlee (Stephen Bates) Knudsen, and Kayla Knudsen-Jongsma; six great-grandchildren, Kayden Jongsma, Theodore Jongsma, Domonic Kopacka, Galileo Kopacka, Kian Kopacka, and River Paige Knudsen; one sister, Roberta “Bobbie” Kirk; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Becki Miller; and brother, Allan Sigrist.

Cremation rites have been accorded and private interment will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com

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