Frederick Paul Schoenfeld Obituary (2008)

Frederick Paul Schoenfeld, 80, of Mission Hills, KS, died Wednesday, June 18, 2008 after a courageous 7-year fight with prostate cancer. Funeral services will be 1:00pm Friday, June 20, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue. Burial at Rose Hill Cemetery. The family requests no flowers and donations should be sent to a charity of your choice. Fred was born May 12, 1928 to Henry Hill and Dorothy Kemp Schoenfeld. He was a life-long resident of Kansas City, living in Mission Hills for over sixty years. He attended Prairie Elementary School, Missouri Military Academy, and graduated from Shawnee Mission High School (SM North). He attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and graduated from the University of Missouri where he was a founding member of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity. It was there he met Margaret Routman Schoenfeld, his wife of 59 years. Following college, Fred and Marge moved back to Kansas City and he worked for his father at Greenwoods Restaurant Equipment providing kitchen equipment, fixtures and supplies to all of the major restaurants and hotels. In 1953, he opened Select Brands Distributing Company which distributed housewares, electronics, appliances and giftware. As the largest housewares and electronic distributor in the United States, Select Brands was also the largest CorningWare distributor in the United States. Fred opened branches in New Orleans, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas and Houston and was the CEO until he sold the business to Tri-Vest Industries, in 1984. Select Awards was another division of Select Brands specializing in premium and gift distribution for financial institutions. In 1958, Fred and his father Henry built Lucky Strike Lanes Bowling Alley at 90th and Wornall. He was the proprietor until he sold the business in 1988. Fred was a partner in American Crane and Tractor, and continued to oversee Greenwoods until he sold to Sysco Corporation. Fred was also a licensed commercial realtor in both Kansas and Missouri. Fred was an avid sports fan with season tickets to the Royals, Chiefs and the Kansas City Kings. He never met a coach or manager that knew more than him, whether it was KU or a professional team. Fred and Marge traveled for many years all over the world. He loved wintering the past 21 years in Scottsdale, where he played tennis and relaxed with family and friends. Fred served in the U.S. Navy, was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, former member of Rotary Club 13, past member of Oakwood Country Club, Kansas City Club, and Homestead Country Club. He was currently a member of Gainey Ranch Club, Scottsdale, Arizona and the New Reform Temple. He served on the Board of Directors of the Mark Twain Bank, President of the Kansas City Housewares Club, Board of Trustees of the National Small Business Association, and was a member of the Housewares Associated Distributors Incorporated, a member of the Kansas and Missouri and National Restaurant Associations, National Committee to Preserve Family Business, President of the Electrical Housewares Association, and a member of the Housewares Association of Distributors. Fred was predeceased by his son, Stephen, in 1989. Fred is survived by his wife, Margaret, of the home, a son Thomas Schoenfeld (Kay) of Mission Hills, a daughter Susan Fate (Mike) of Mission Hills, a daughter-in-law Marcia Schoenfeld (Fred Greenstein) of Prairie Village. He leaves seven grandchildren, Amy, Scott and Sally Schoenfeld, Melissa and Brian Fate, Stacy Curtis (Ryan) and Brett Schoenfeld (Christy). He also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, William James Curtis and Stephen Edward Schoenfeld. He is also survived by his sister, Lucille Abrahamson, San Francisco, his brother-in-law Mel Routman and sister-in-law Lee Routman of Springfield, Illinois.