Fred John (Fritz) Marienau, 69
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 1 hour, 34 minutes AGO
Fred John Marienau passed away June 10, 2026. He was born June 28, 1956 in Corpus Christi, Texas. His parents, Fred and Delsie Marienau were living there while his father was in the Navy.
Fred graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1974. He was a active member in the Boy Scouts and attended the World Scouting Jamboree at Farragut. After graduating, Fred joined the Army. He spent most of his Army career in Europe. While in Europe he traveled to as many countries as he could.
Fred married the love of his life, Lorrie Norton of on April 1, 2000, at her family’s ranch, Gypo Meadows AQHA Ranch on Shingle Mill Road in Sandpoint. Fred and Lorrie spent their life together in the HooDoo Valley area.
He loved to hunt and fish. He spent many hours asleep in his hunting chair. He loved to take naps at family gatherings after a satisfying meal. He was an avid gardener. He spent many hours in his garden, tilling the earth, planting seeds and watching it grow but he didn’t love to weed. Fred liked to cook especially for his wife, Lorrie.
Fred had several jobs during his life. He drove a taxi, worked at the Noxon Exxon, owned and operated Zippy’s in Priest River and his last job, driving trucks for Bastine Trucking. Fred loved his job hauling the mail. It was so important to him that he worked right up to the last second of his life.
He had a good and unique sense of humor. His idea of a good joke was ad campaign for Zippy’s, stating the Cashier was topless, of course that would have been Fred with an apron on and no shirt. Everyone is happy he didn’t follow through with the idea.
Fred was proceeded in death by his parents, Dr. Fred and Delsie (Harman) Marienau. He is survived by his wife, Lorrie (Norton); brothers, Wally (Milah), Eric, and Mathew; sisters, Rebecca (Edward) Hawkins, Sarah (Todd) Mitchell and Mary Marienau; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A celebration of life for Fred will be held August 1, 2026, at the Old Litehouse restaurant in Hope, Idaho, 2-6 p.m.