Fred Stolle
September 30, 1928 ~ November 17, 2011
Fred Carl Stolle, 83, a resident of La Quinta and Irvine and forty year resident of Long Beach, passed into glory on Nov. 17th of complications from myelodysplastic leukemia. He was born in 1928 on the family farm in Haschenbrok, Germany, to Heinrich and Gesine Stolle. Fred was a man who loved his God, his family, and his adopted country. After surviving WWII and living in war-torn Germany, Fred came to America in 1949, penniless, speaking virtually no English, and repaid his travel costs to a dairy farmer by working on his farm for one year. Through drive, talent and hard work, he lived the American dream, creating an amazing life, family and legacy. He was always the biggest presence in a room -- with the best stories, the most energy and an unrelenting zest for life. Self-taught through life experience, he mastered everything he tried. Over the years, Fred worked as a diary farmer, landscaper, window/door installer, painter, general contractor, automobile salesman, real estate investor, landlord, avocado ranch owner, and in his last days as an active stock investor. He worked for Cormier Chevrolet in Long Beach for more than 35 years, eventually becoming General Manager. Fred was very proud of his record-breaking sales and of personally delivering more than 100,000 cars. On Tuesdays, his one day off from the dealership, he created a forty-two acre avocado ranch with over 4,000 trees and beautiful adobe dream house in Valley Center, Calif. Active his entire life, Fred enjoyed working on his many home projects as well as playing golf, cycling and exercising. He also loved traveling all over the world but he cherished his 52 visits to Germany seeing his family. Fred loved people most of all. Visiting with them and giving them advice was his favorite thing to do. He will be deeply missed by his wife, his children, their spouses and grandchildren (to whom he was a much-loved “Opa”). He is survived by his wife Diane Stolle; by his children and spouses, Tony Stolle (Kathy), Jeanna Lynn Young (Bruce), Fred Carl Stolle II (Michelle), Garrett Lenz Stolle (Hayley); by his grandchildren, Kathleen Kilgore (Michael), Tony Stolle (Donna), Randy Stolle (Susan), Andi Stolle, Maison Stolle, Christian Young, Danika Young, Pierce Stolle, Emmalynn Young, Kenton Young, and another granddaughter on the way; by his living siblings in Germany, brother, Reinhart Stolle (Renate) and sister, Linda Groteluschen and Irmgard Stolle; and three great grandchildren. The family will receive visitors at the Long Beach Church of Christ, 3707 Atlantic Ave, from 6:00 until 8:00pm on Friday, December 2. A memorial celebration of his life will be at the Long Beach Church of Christ at 3:00pm on Sunday, December 4 with Geron Bryan officiating. In lieu of flowers, the Fred Stolle Scholarship Fund has been created at the Long Beach Church of Christ to fund an annual award to the high school senior who best exemplifies Fred’s singular dedication and talents.
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Fred was always a warm hearted man. I enjoyed spending time around him. He used to have me work for him when I was in high school and college around the penthouse in Long Beach. I will always have fond memories of him.