He was born May 7, 1923 in San Antonio, Texas the son of Fred Rochester, Sr. and Ella Heath Colgan. On December 1, 1951 he married Mary Harvey in Quincy, Illinois. She preceded him in death on July 25, 2007.

He served in the Army Air Force as a B-26 pilot during World War II in Europe, where he received the European Theatre ribbon with three bronze stars and the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.

He retired in 1986 from WGEM TV and Radio as operations manager after 48 years. Fred was a pioneer of broadcasting, and was involved in making WGEM the first TV station to go on the air in Quincy, Illinois. He was a member of Vermont Street United Methodist Church. He was a second cousin to and knew Harry S. Truman, the thirty-third President of the United States.

Survivors include two sons, Kevin Colgan, Quincy, and Casey Heath Colgan, New York, NY. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Rochester Colgan, Jr, and a sister-in-law, Rosemary Harvey.

Services will be 11 am Thursday in Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with the Rev. Lou Zuck officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 6 pm. Burial will be in Quincy Memorial Park. Memorials made to the Quincy Humane Society or the Illinois Veterans Home Activities Fund in his name would be appreciated. Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.