Frederick “Fred” Leo Zievers, 72, of Pleasant Prairie, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center with his wife, Melissa, by his side.
Born in Pomona, California, on July 3, 1951, he was the son of the late Carl J. and Edith C. (Lichter) Zievers. Upon his family’s return to the Kenosha area in 1957, Fred attended St. James School, St. Joseph High School for one year, and Bradford High School, graduating in 1969. Fred earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 1973 and his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 1976.
Fred then embarked upon an esteemed, decades-long legal career in the Kenosha area. After serving as an assistant district attorney in Brown and Kenosha counties, Fred entered private practice, retiring with the firm of Zievers & Dowse. Fred was a brilliant, highly respected attorney and was proud to have argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Fred was a former member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.
On March 15, 2008, he married Melissa C. Roach at the Kemper Center, and they built and shared a beautiful life together for fifteen and a half years.
Fred was an astute observer of American politics and a student of history. An avid reader, Fred regularly read three books at a time. Fred also enjoyed spending time at their home in Naples, Fla., golfing, rooting for his Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Reds alongside his beloved dogs, cooking, baking and grilling, and tending to his yard. Most of all, Fred loved spending time with his wife, family and his many friends in Kenosha and Naples. Fred was a true Renaissance man.
Fred is survived by his loving wife, Melissa; daughter, Stephanie Zievers, of Madison; siblings, Carl John (Carolyn) Zievers III of Tacoma, Wash.; Paul (Cliff) Zievers of Seattle, Wash.; Ann (Bruce) Branchini of Old Lyme, Conn.; and Peter (Zhe) Zievers of Naperville, Ill.; father-in-law, James Roach, of Kenosha; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Barbara (Jeffery) Clark and Michael (Mary) Roach of Pleasant Prairie, Joseph (Michelle) Roach of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mary (Mark) Kuspa of Parker, Colo.; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; and several cousins.
In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Catherine “Pat” Roach, in 2016.
Funeral services honoring Fred’s life will be held on Sunday, September 24, at the Kemper Center Founders Hall in Kenosha. A Celebration of Life/visitation will take place from 1:00–4:00 p.m., with a service immediately following.
Melissa wishes to thank the medical teams at St. Catherine’s and St. Luke’s for the exceptional and compassionate care they showed Fred and Melissa during this most difficult time, as well as the many family members and friends whose outpouring of love and support has meant so much.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Fred’s memory to the Shalom Center and the American Heroes Café-Kenosha.
