Fred V. Kidd, Jr., 88, a long-time resident of Peculiar, MO, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022 in Harrisonville, MO.  Funeral services were held  Saturday, July 2, 2022 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO.  Burial in Wills Cemetery, Peculiar, MO.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Harrisonville Community of Christ Church or the Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation.

Fred was born March 19, 1934 to the late Fred Kidd, Sr. and Cora Crooks Kidd in Kansas City. Fred was the oldest of three children.  Fred and his siblings worked hard on the family farm; however, he found time to play high school basketball and run track.  Fred graduated first in his class from Peculiar High School in 1952.  He was a U. S. Navy veteran. Following boot camp, he returned home and married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Welborn, on February 19, 1953.  Fred was assigned to the USS Magoffin and his tour of duty took him to areas including Korea and Japan.  During his eight years in the Navy, assignments took he and Geri to San Diego, Washington DC, and Grosse Isle, Michigan.

Upon his naval discharge, Fred and Geri and their young family moved to Bonner Springs, Kansas where they operated a dairy farm with his parents.  Fred became a union electrician a few years later and was a proud member of IBEW 124 in Kansas City.  He worked as an electrician on a variety of commercial construction sites in the greater Kansas City area, and he was superintendent of several major construction projects throughout his career.  Fred was electrocuted in 1984 and spent several weeks in the KU Burnett Burn Center. Following recovery from this accident, Fred threw himself back into his work and retired as Construction and Utilities Supervisor for National Starch and Food Products in Kansas City.

Fred cared deeply about his family; he was family focused.  Family life was church on Sunday, Sunday night, and Wednesday nights.  We lost track of the Friday nights Fred sat in the bleachers cheering loudly for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren whether they were playing football, twirling the baton or flags, or marching with the band. He was proud of the kids when they were in the school musicals, dramas, music concerts, playing soccer, t-ball, basketball, or swimming.  He was thrilled to celebrate baby blessings, baptisms, graduations, and marriages with his family.

Fred became a cub scout in 1946.  He accepted Christ as his personal savior at a young age and was baptized a member of the RLDS Church/Community of Christ in 1952.  He was a lay minister for the church for 65 years.  He tried his best to help others know Christ.  He spent endless volunteer hours helping with youth activities, camps, community projects, and families in crisis.  Because they all had children about the same age, several families formed a special bond through scouts and church.  Fred especially enjoyed the scout and church float trips that so many remember through the years.

Fred served as the Municipal Judge for the City of Peculiar from 1966-2004.  He treasured the friendships he made while serving as a volunteer chaplain for Cass Regional Medical Center and as a member of the Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation Board.

Fred and Connie Kepferle were married from 1996-2020 and lived together on their property south of Peculiar.  Fred always considered himself a farm boy, and he loved being back in the country.  Keeping all the farm equipment in proper operating order was quite a challenge, but Fred was particularly happy when he was bouncing around on his tractor baling hay.  He was pound for pound one of the strongest men around, but he spent much of his life suffering from a variety of physical problems that he was always "just too busy" to get fixed.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Geraldine, daughter, Pamela Hancock, grandson, Nicholas Kidd, great-granddaughter, Katherine McQueary, and his brother, Bill Kidd.  He is survived by his children and their spouses: Marcia and Rick McQueary of Holden, Brad and Mary Kidd of Warrensburg, and Patrick and Paula Kidd of O'Fallon;  grandchildren and their spouses:  Clint and Sarah McQueary, Jennifer and Dustin Gray, Brandon and Amanda Hancock, Jaime and Damon Clodfelter, Kelsey and James Dooley, Austin Kidd, Ethan Kidd, and Loren Kidd; great-grandchildren: Conner, Ryan and Isabella McQueary, Dalton and Jacob Gray, Gabriel and Elaina Hancock, Aubrey and Everley Clodfelter, and Emsley Dooley.  He is also survived by his sister, Betty Hailey, of Claremore, Oklahoma, 10 nieces and nephews and their families, and his son-in-law and his spouse, Dewayne and Jeanette Hancock and family.