Fred Hopka Hawkins, Sr., was born on April 30, 1927 to Kenneth and Josephine (Hopka) Hawkins. Fred married Tish (Patricia Gardiner) in 1948, and together they had three children: Fred Jr., Susan, and Kim. Fred married Patricia Hiber Morocco in 2001. Fred had a stellar career in the Omaha area. He co-founded Hawkins Construction Company after graduating from the University of Nebraska, where he played football for the Cornhuskers. Hawkins Construction became one of the top contractors in the United States. Hawkins Construction Company has built miles of interstate, bridges, airports, and hundreds of buildings in Nebraska and surrounding states. Fred served on many civic, business, and foundation boards. He was honored with a doctorate degree and membership in the Nebraska Hall of Fame. He was awarded two honors from the University of Nebraska: the Business Leadership Award and Entrepreneur of the Year. Fred also received an honorary doctoral degree from Bellevue University. Fred loved Omaha. In 1999 he was named to the Omaha Hall of Fame by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, an award of which he was most proud. Fred had a passion for life. Some of his fondest memories were his days with his grandparents in Blue Hill, Nebraska. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and model airplane building. As "Pops" he kept up with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved their home in Florida where he and Pattie wintered. They golfed, swam, and enjoyed a glass of wine together at sunset.
Fred is survived by his devoted wife, Pattie, and his three children: Fred Jr. (Marianne), Susan (Howard) Katelman, and Kim (Karen); grandchildren; Kathryn, Patricia, Michael, John, Joseph, Kim Jr., Chris, and Andrea; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel. SERVICES Wednesday, 10:30am, Dundee Presbyterian Church. Private Interment, Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials in Fred's name can be made to UNL Athletic Football Program and Bellevue University.
HEAFEY-HOFFMANN-DWORAK WEST CENTER CHAPEL 7805 W. Center Rd. 402-391-3900 www.heafeyheafey.com
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From the Omaha World Herald Newspaper:
A commitment to excellence served Fred H. Hawkins Sr. well throughout his life as a Husker athlete, construction magnate, sportsman and civic leader.
“The primary thing dad taught his children was to do things right,” said his son Kim Hawkins, 60, the youngest of three children. “Dad measured people based upon their effort and commitment and not the size of their wallet or (academic) degree.”
Fred Hawkins, 88, died in his Omaha home Friday night. There will be a funeral service Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church.
Hawkins had a deep love of Nebraska and relished his time spent as a youth with his maternal grandparents in Blue Hill, a town about 20 miles south of Hastings. He often talked about the hunting, fishing and model airplane building he did as a child, his son said.
At the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1949, Hawkins started at offensive guard while lining up next to the legendary Tom Novak, whom he called the toughest man he ever met.
His proudest accomplishment as a Husker, his son said, was scoring a touchdown after picking up a fumble.
After graduation, Hawkins and his father, Kenneth, formed Hawkins Construction Co., which became one of the top contractors in the United States. The company built miles of Interstate highways, bridges and airports, and hundreds of buildings in Nebraska and surrounding states.
“Their first big job was one that could make or break the company ... the Omaha sewage treatment plant,” Kim Hawkins said. “It was do or die.”
The elder Hawkins shepherded many other Omaha landmark projects, including the City-County Building and the Gene Leahy Mall.
He turned over operation of the construction company to his sons, Kim and Fred Jr., in 1980 and started another chapter of his life as a civic leader.
In 1999 he was named to the Omaha Business Hall of Fame by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, an award of which he was most proud, Kim Hawkins said. The University of Nebraska honored him with its Business Leadership and Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and he is in the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
His civic involvement included longtime support for the Aksarben organization and serving on the board of Bellevue University.
Hawkins loved to hunt duck, pheasant, quail and deer. His competitive nature sometimes made the hunt difficult for others because Hawkins was quick on the trigger and seldom missed.
“I think the time spent with his grandparents in Blue Hill was dad’s paradise because of everything that he learned there,” Kim Hawkins said.
“After he retired, he spent half the year in Florida, but Nebraska had his heart, and he never changed his home address even though Florida has no state income tax.”
In addition to his sons, Hawkins is survived by his wife, Pattie; daughter, Susan; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
Fred is survived by his devoted wife, Pattie, and his three children: Fred Jr. (Marianne), Susan (Howard) Katelman, and Kim (Karen); grandchildren; Kathryn, Patricia, Michael, John, Joseph, Kim Jr., Chris, and Andrea; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel. SERVICES Wednesday, 10:30am, Dundee Presbyterian Church. Private Interment, Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials in Fred's name can be made to UNL Athletic Football Program and Bellevue University.
HEAFEY-HOFFMANN-DWORAK WEST CENTER CHAPEL 7805 W. Center Rd. 402-391-3900 www.heafeyheafey.com
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From the Omaha World Herald Newspaper:
A commitment to excellence served Fred H. Hawkins Sr. well throughout his life as a Husker athlete, construction magnate, sportsman and civic leader.
“The primary thing dad taught his children was to do things right,” said his son Kim Hawkins, 60, the youngest of three children. “Dad measured people based upon their effort and commitment and not the size of their wallet or (academic) degree.”
Fred Hawkins, 88, died in his Omaha home Friday night. There will be a funeral service Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church.
Hawkins had a deep love of Nebraska and relished his time spent as a youth with his maternal grandparents in Blue Hill, a town about 20 miles south of Hastings. He often talked about the hunting, fishing and model airplane building he did as a child, his son said.
At the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1949, Hawkins started at offensive guard while lining up next to the legendary Tom Novak, whom he called the toughest man he ever met.
His proudest accomplishment as a Husker, his son said, was scoring a touchdown after picking up a fumble.
After graduation, Hawkins and his father, Kenneth, formed Hawkins Construction Co., which became one of the top contractors in the United States. The company built miles of Interstate highways, bridges and airports, and hundreds of buildings in Nebraska and surrounding states.
“Their first big job was one that could make or break the company ... the Omaha sewage treatment plant,” Kim Hawkins said. “It was do or die.”
The elder Hawkins shepherded many other Omaha landmark projects, including the City-County Building and the Gene Leahy Mall.
He turned over operation of the construction company to his sons, Kim and Fred Jr., in 1980 and started another chapter of his life as a civic leader.
In 1999 he was named to the Omaha Business Hall of Fame by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, an award of which he was most proud, Kim Hawkins said. The University of Nebraska honored him with its Business Leadership and Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and he is in the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
His civic involvement included longtime support for the Aksarben organization and serving on the board of Bellevue University.
Hawkins loved to hunt duck, pheasant, quail and deer. His competitive nature sometimes made the hunt difficult for others because Hawkins was quick on the trigger and seldom missed.
“I think the time spent with his grandparents in Blue Hill was dad’s paradise because of everything that he learned there,” Kim Hawkins said.
“After he retired, he spent half the year in Florida, but Nebraska had his heart, and he never changed his home address even though Florida has no state income tax.”
In addition to his sons, Hawkins is survived by his wife, Pattie; daughter, Susan; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
Fred Hopka Hawkins, Sr., was born on April 30, 1927 to Kenneth and Josephine (Hopka) Hawkins. Fred married Tish (Patricia Gardiner) in 1948, and together they had three children: Fred Jr., Susan, and Kim. Fred married Patricia Hiber Morocco in 2001. Fred had a stellar career in the Omaha area. He co-founded Hawkins Construction Company after graduating from the University of Nebraska, where he played football for the Cornhuskers. Hawkins Construction became one of the top contractors in the United States. Hawkins Construction Company has built miles of interstate, bridges, airports, and hundreds of buildings in Nebraska and surrounding states. Fred served on many civic, business, and foundation boards. He was honored with a doctorate degree and membership in the Nebraska Hall of Fame. He was awarded two honors from the University of Nebraska: the Business Leadership Award and Entrepreneur of the Year. Fred also received an honorary doctoral degree from Bellevue University. Fred loved Omaha. In 1999 he was named to the Omaha Hall of Fame by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, an award of which he was most proud. Fred had a passion for life. Some of his fondest memories were his days with his grandparents in Blue Hill, Nebraska. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and model airplane building. As "Pops" he kept up with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved their home in Florida where he and Pattie wintered. They golfed, swam, and enjoyed a glass of wine together at sunset.
Fred is survived by his devoted wife, Pattie, and his three children: Fred Jr. (Marianne), Susan (Howard) Katelman, and Kim (Karen); grandchildren; Kathryn, Patricia, Michael, John, Joseph, Kim Jr., Chris, and Andrea; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel. SERVICES Wednesday, 10:30am, Dundee Presbyterian Church. Private Interment, Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials in Fred's name can be made to UNL Athletic Football Program and Bellevue University.
HEAFEY-HOFFMANN-DWORAK WEST CENTER CHAPEL 7805 W. Center Rd. 402-391-3900 www.heafeyheafey.com
---------------------
From the Omaha World Herald Newspaper:
A commitment to excellence served Fred H. Hawkins Sr. well throughout his life as a Husker athlete, construction magnate, sportsman and civic leader.
“The primary thing dad taught his children was to do things right,” said his son Kim Hawkins, 60, the youngest of three children. “Dad measured people based upon their effort and commitment and not the size of their wallet or (academic) degree.”
Fred Hawkins, 88, died in his Omaha home Friday night. There will be a funeral service Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church.
Hawkins had a deep love of Nebraska and relished his time spent as a youth with his maternal grandparents in Blue Hill, a town about 20 miles south of Hastings. He often talked about the hunting, fishing and model airplane building he did as a child, his son said.
At the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1949, Hawkins started at offensive guard while lining up next to the legendary Tom Novak, whom he called the toughest man he ever met.
His proudest accomplishment as a Husker, his son said, was scoring a touchdown after picking up a fumble.
After graduation, Hawkins and his father, Kenneth, formed Hawkins Construction Co., which became one of the top contractors in the United States. The company built miles of Interstate highways, bridges and airports, and hundreds of buildings in Nebraska and surrounding states.
“Their first big job was one that could make or break the company ... the Omaha sewage treatment plant,” Kim Hawkins said. “It was do or die.”
The elder Hawkins shepherded many other Omaha landmark projects, including the City-County Building and the Gene Leahy Mall.
He turned over operation of the construction company to his sons, Kim and Fred Jr., in 1980 and started another chapter of his life as a civic leader.
In 1999 he was named to the Omaha Business Hall of Fame by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, an award of which he was most proud, Kim Hawkins said. The University of Nebraska honored him with its Business Leadership and Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and he is in the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
His civic involvement included longtime support for the Aksarben organization and serving on the board of Bellevue University.
Hawkins loved to hunt duck, pheasant, quail and deer. His competitive nature sometimes made the hunt difficult for others because Hawkins was quick on the trigger and seldom missed.
“I think the time spent with his grandparents in Blue Hill was dad’s paradise because of everything that he learned there,” Kim Hawkins said.
“After he retired, he spent half the year in Florida, but Nebraska had his heart, and he never changed his home address even though Florida has no state income tax.”
In addition to his sons, Hawkins is survived by his wife, Pattie; daughter, Susan; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
Fred is survived by his devoted wife, Pattie, and his three children: Fred Jr. (Marianne), Susan (Howard) Katelman, and Kim (Karen); grandchildren; Kathryn, Patricia, Michael, John, Joseph, Kim Jr., Chris, and Andrea; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel. SERVICES Wednesday, 10:30am, Dundee Presbyterian Church. Private Interment, Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials in Fred's name can be made to UNL Athletic Football Program and Bellevue University.
HEAFEY-HOFFMANN-DWORAK WEST CENTER CHAPEL 7805 W. Center Rd. 402-391-3900 www.heafeyheafey.com
---------------------
From the Omaha World Herald Newspaper:
A commitment to excellence served Fred H. Hawkins Sr. well throughout his life as a Husker athlete, construction magnate, sportsman and civic leader.
“The primary thing dad taught his children was to do things right,” said his son Kim Hawkins, 60, the youngest of three children. “Dad measured people based upon their effort and commitment and not the size of their wallet or (academic) degree.”
Fred Hawkins, 88, died in his Omaha home Friday night. There will be a funeral service Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church.
Hawkins had a deep love of Nebraska and relished his time spent as a youth with his maternal grandparents in Blue Hill, a town about 20 miles south of Hastings. He often talked about the hunting, fishing and model airplane building he did as a child, his son said.
At the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1949, Hawkins started at offensive guard while lining up next to the legendary Tom Novak, whom he called the toughest man he ever met.
His proudest accomplishment as a Husker, his son said, was scoring a touchdown after picking up a fumble.
After graduation, Hawkins and his father, Kenneth, formed Hawkins Construction Co., which became one of the top contractors in the United States. The company built miles of Interstate highways, bridges and airports, and hundreds of buildings in Nebraska and surrounding states.
“Their first big job was one that could make or break the company ... the Omaha sewage treatment plant,” Kim Hawkins said. “It was do or die.”
The elder Hawkins shepherded many other Omaha landmark projects, including the City-County Building and the Gene Leahy Mall.
He turned over operation of the construction company to his sons, Kim and Fred Jr., in 1980 and started another chapter of his life as a civic leader.
In 1999 he was named to the Omaha Business Hall of Fame by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, an award of which he was most proud, Kim Hawkins said. The University of Nebraska honored him with its Business Leadership and Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and he is in the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
His civic involvement included longtime support for the Aksarben organization and serving on the board of Bellevue University.
Hawkins loved to hunt duck, pheasant, quail and deer. His competitive nature sometimes made the hunt difficult for others because Hawkins was quick on the trigger and seldom missed.
“I think the time spent with his grandparents in Blue Hill was dad’s paradise because of everything that he learned there,” Kim Hawkins said.
“After he retired, he spent half the year in Florida, but Nebraska had his heart, and he never changed his home address even though Florida has no state income tax.”
In addition to his sons, Hawkins is survived by his wife, Pattie; daughter, Susan; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Josephine, his first wife, Tish, and his sister, Sadie.
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