REDLANDS, California -- Fred H. Bremer, PhD, 87, died Saturday (Nov. 20, 2010).

He was born on Feb. 23, 1923, in Northfork, West Virginia. As a child, he lived in West Virginia, Texas and South Carolina.

He was a student at the University of South Carolina before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942, seeing service in Burma and India as a radio man and navigator on B-24 bombers. He was briefly stationed at the McCook Air Base in McCook, Nebraska, where he met the former Evelyn Estergard of Cambridge, Nebraska, whom he married following his discharge in 1945.

An educator by profession, he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees at the University of Nebraska. He then went on to receive his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Texas. Among the positions he held, he was Superintendant of Schools and President of McCook Junior College from 1958-63. In 1967, after holding leadership positions at Santa Ana College and Chapman College, he joined the new Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California as Vice President and Dean of Instruction. He was elevated to Superintendent of Saddleback College District and President of Saddleback College in August of 1968. Dr. Bremer retired in 1987 as Saddleback's President Emeritus.

Dr. Bremer was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Bremer; and his parents, Henry and Nell Bremer.

He is survived by his son, Bill Bremer of Rochester, New York; a granddaughter; two grandsons; sister, Gene Price of Redlands; and other family.

A private family inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date.

Announcement courtesy of Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook.