Fred Wells

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Fred Wells, formerly of Sidney, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Dec. 8, 2017, at the Shell Point Retirement Community, Fort Myers, Florida.

Born in Sidney on April 8, 1924, Fred was the youngest son of Warren and Jennie Wells. After the tragic death of his father when Fred was two, he and his siblings helped his mother work and maintain the family farm. In 1941, Fred was "selected" to join the Army. On June 6, 1944, he was one of 34,000 brave American soldiers who invaded Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. While Fred survived D-Day, he was hit by a mortar shell a few months later in Germany and critically wounded. He would go on to be decorated with a Purple Heart for his sacrifice and service to his country, and receive an honorable military discharge.

After World War II, Fred returned to Sidney where, in September 1949, he met the love of his life, JoAnn (Jody) Zimpfer. They would marry just three months later, on Dec. 11. Shortly thereafter, the couple started Wells Office Supply together and worked side by side operating the business for over 40 years.

In addition to living in Sidney, Fred and Jody also spent many memorable years at Indian Lake where they would boat, enjoy the company of good friends, and fish. (Jody would catch them. Fred would clean them)

Most recently, Fred resided at the Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jody.

He is survived by his son, Chip, and wife, Dianne, of Sidney; son, Joe, and wife, Kim, of Incline Village, Nevada; and daughter, Betsy and husband, Rob Koeppel, of Easton, Massachusetts. Fred was also Granddad to Shana, Jacob, Rachel, Drew and Nick, and had nine great-grandchildren.

Fred was a loving, gentle, kind, and brilliant man who always had a sparkle in his eye and a smile on his face. He will be missed terribly by all those who loved him and were blessed to be a part of his well-lived life.