Frederick Gorder, 97, of Lake Geneva, Wis., formerly of Arlington Heights, retired in 1988 as owner of Fred Gorder Insurance Agency in Libertyville. Mr. Gorder was previously an executive in the Chicago office of Phoenix of Hartford Insurance Cos. from 1947 to 1965. Mr. Gorder taught insurance classes at local colleges from 1965 to 1975. Mr. Gorder, a Chicago native, died Sunday, Feb. 4, in Delavan, Wis. “He could’ve kept working after his retirement at 84,” said his daughter, Roberta Gorder Sommers. “Education was important to him. Being decent to other people, living simply and humbly was important to him. My dad was a first-generation American. His father and mother [the late Alfred and India Gaarder]came here from Oslo a year before his birth. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage. In his early 20s, when he lived in Chicago, he played shortstop on a semi-pro baseball team. He once played against Lou Gehrig. He also played semi-pro tennis in his 20s.” Other survivors include two brothers, Herbert W. and Henry A.; and a grandson. A visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, when a service will be held in Linn Presbyterian Church, W3335 Willow Rd., Lake Geneva.
