Karl Frederick "Fred" Lake, age 84, of Vienna, was born December 19, 1939, in St. Louis, a son of Bernard Sjostadt and Pearl (Peterbusch) Lake, and passed from this life Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at Capital Regional Hospital, Jefferson City.

On January 28, 1958, at St. Louis, Fred entered active federal service in the United States Navy and served until April 26, 1961, when he was honorably discharged at Great Lake, Illinois, as an Aviation Machinist Mate, at the rank of E4.  A man of excellent character, Fred's "Honorable Discharge" is a testimony of selfless and faithful service to his country. While enlisted in the United States Navy, Fred attended and graduated from Airframe and Power Plant school in 1959.

He was married October 27, 1962, at New Melle, Missouri, to Carolyn Rose Ganninger, and to this union 3 children were born.

After his discharge from the United States Navy, Fred went on to become a firefighter in the City of St. Louis, ran a gas station in St. Louis for several years, and retired as a diesel mechanic from Consolidated Freightways, after 20 plus years of employment.

Fred was a man of many talents, and there was not anything that he could not fix. He was an amateur gunsmith, an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, and hunting, which he taught all his grandchildren to do. Fred will always be remembered for his famous saying, "Keep a smile on your face, Love in your heart, and a Wiggle in your walk!"-Fred Lake

Those left to celebrate the life of Fred include: his loving wife of 61 years, Carolyn, of the home near Vienna; his children, Edward Lake and wife, Tammy, of Vienna, Mary Ellen Lake and fiancé, Keith Tippit, of Overland, and Karl Lake and wife, Sarah, of Vienna; 9 grandchildren, Jenny Keeteman and husband, Kyle, Jackie Zuern and husband, Seth, Toni Sells and husband, Galen, Molly Carter and husband, Justin, Mary Morris and husband, Ethan, Ben Lake and wife, Danielle, Brett Lake and wife, Megan, Morgan Lake and wife, Ally, and Ian Lake; 11 great-grandchildren, Steven, Peyton, Milly, Owen, Colin, Amelia, Jamie, Sawyer, James, Beau, and Charlotte; and other relatives and friends.

Fred was proceeded in death by his father, Bernard on February 5, 1951; his mother, Pearl on March 11, 1993; three brothers, Richard Lake in 1981, John Lake on April 2, 1941, and Robert Lake in 2018; and two sisters, Mary "Molly" Regan in 2009, and Byrnece Finn on June 29, 2019.

Visitation for Fred will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2024, in the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home Chapel, 406 South Main Street, Vienna, MO 65582. Honorary pallbearers for Fred are Eddy Lake, Karl Lake, Ian Lake, Morgan Lake, Ben Lake, and Brett Lake.

Memorial contributions in memory of Fred are suggested by his family to the Missouri Department of Conservation-Hunters Education, with envelopes available at the funeral home or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 250, Vienna, Missouri 65582.

Online condolences may be shared with the family of Mr. Karl "Fred" Lake at www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com