Obituary of Frederick J. Kissinger

Frederick J. Kissinger, 74, of State College, died Tuesday, December 22, 2015, at home. Born July 13, 1941, in Williamsport, he was the son of the late Gordon D. and Alice Reidy Kissinger. Fred was a 1959 graduate of State College Area High School. Upon graduation he chose to sign up with the Pennsylvania National Guard and served with the 112th Aircraft Control and Warning Flight in Buchel, Germany. Deployed by President Kennedy, he served 10 months in Germany during the "Berlin Wall" crisis. In 1933, Fred's father opened the Gordon D. Kissinger Agency in a one room office on the 2nd floor of the State College Hotel. Fred joined his father, Gordon Kissinger, in his real estate business on February 3, 1964. Gordon remained active in the business until 1980, when he semi-retired. As the market grew, Kissinger, Leonard and Associates merged with Ralph Brower and Associates in 1983, and in 1993 merged with Associated Realty to become the existing Kissinger Bigatel & Brower Realtors, the largest and oldest real estate brokerage in Central Pennsylvania. Gordon, the founder of what is now Kissinger Bigatel & Brower Realtors, passed in 1994. Fred completed his father, Gordon's, developments in Park Hills and Centre Hills. Fred served as the Broker of Record for Kissinger Bigatel & Brower Realtors for many years. His professional memberships include the National Association of Realtors, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, Centre County Association of Realtors, where he served as President in 1969, Realtors National Marketing Institute and Honorary Member of Rho Epsilon (Penn State), a National Honorary Real Estate Fraternity. He was a founding member and former Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Centre County Housing Authority. Along with his business partner, Ralph Brower, he was designated Realtor Emeritus in 2005. Fred was also a board member of the Brockerhoff House Corporation. In his youth, Fred served as an altar boy at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. He was a member of the State College Elks Lodge 1600 as well as the American Legion Post 245. As a lifelong golfer, he was a member of Centre Hills Country Club since 1967 and served as President of the Board in 1984. He was also a member of Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL. In the past, he served on the Omega Financial Board of Directors for the State College area. He was a supporter of the Centre Foundation and its endowment in memory of his brother Jack, which benefits ARC. He had a love of travel, particularly golf trips, and owned numerous antique cars throughout the years. He was an avid sports fan as well as a strong supporter of Penn State Athletics. In the summer of 2014, he proudly hosted his 55th high school class reunion at his farm in State College. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m., on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at Koch Funeral Home. Burial will be in Centre County Memorial Park. He is survived by three children, John G. Kissinger of State College, Brian F. M. Kissinger and his wife, Chloe, of Boalsburg, and Colleen A. Seehafer and her husband, Bradlee, of Sherwood, OR; one brother, Richard G. Kissinger of Centre Hall; two grandchildren, Amber and Frederick; a friend, Ann Marie Wishard. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Kissinger, in 1993. As Fred was a proud donor of Mount Nittany Medical Center, those wishing to make a donation in Fred's memory may do so by contributing to The Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center, 1800 E. Park Avenue, State College, PA 16803 or https://give.mountnittany.org Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.