Kingsford-Fred L. Stafford, 89, of Kingsford, Mich., passed away Friday, November 11, 2016 at Iron County Medical Care Facility, Crystal Falls, Mich.

He was born May 19, 1927 in Kingsford, son of the late Daniel and Louise (Turcotte) Stafford. He grew up in Kingsford behind the old Capital Theater which is still standing on Breen Avenue and in 1937 became the original American Martyrs Catholic Church. Fred married Anna Turturillo on October 31, 1948.

Fred served in the United States Navy as a Seabee in the Construction Battalion from February 1945, until being honorably discharged in August 1946. He was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a member of the 4th Degree-Bishop Baraga Council in Kingsford. Fred was solely instrumental in obtaining the Terrace Clubhouse for the Knights of Columbus Countil-2300 in 1985 through the Gratuity of Diane Waite. He worked as many as 80 hours in a single week along with Billie Rivard preparing the Clubhouse for occupancy after being vacant for 7 years.

He moved to Iron River in 1951 and worked for the Warner Mine in Amasa. Fred later owned and operated Fred’s Appliance/Wood Heaters in Iron River and in later years, he ran the Pizza/Pasty King in Iron River and Kingsford. Fred married Ruby Gibbons on November 2, 1991, in Iron River, Mich. She preceded him in death on February 11, 2011.

Fred is survived by two sons; Daniel (Marvis) Stafford, Florida and Michael (Bee) Stafford, Iron River; two step-sons, Rodney (Sharlene) Kranz, Grayslake, Ill. and Barry Kranz, Lower Michigan; three daughters, Carmeleen (Joe) Eichhorn, Colorado, Kathleen Nordby, Wisconsin and Colleen Reynolds, Wisconsin; one step-daughter, Karen Lynd, Marquette, Mich.; two brothers, Robert (Dorothy) Stafford, Iron River and William (Sally) Stafford, Iron Mountain; two sisters, Marge Zeeb, Kingsford and Rose (Ralph) Trepasso, Missouri; ten grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and by thirty-nine nieces and nephews.

As well as his parents and wife, Ruby, Fred was preceded in death by two brothers, Edward and Raymond Stafford.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 18, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain. American Legion Uren Cooper Johnson Post #50 of Iron Mountain will accord Military Honors, Friday, 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held Friday, 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Rev. Fr. Joseph Gouin will officiate. Burial will be in Norway Township Cemetery, Norway, Mich.

You may light a candle in remembrance of Fred or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com

The Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, is serving the family.