Obituary for Fred T Space
Wantage Twp.; Fred T Space, 92, passed away from a short illness on January 25, 2021. Fred was born to Ralph and Elizabeth (Cosh) Space on September 28, 1928 in Beemerville, NJ, where he lived his entire life.
He was a 1946 Graduate of Sussex High School and a 2nd Generation Owner and Zookeeper of Space Farms Zoo & Museum. Fred was a 77 year member of the Beemerville Fire Department, Fire Chief from 1951-1953. He was a founding member of the Kittatinny Recreation Association, the forerunner of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce. His service to the community was numerous. He served on the Sussex Wantage Board of Education and served 35 years on the Wantage Township Zoning Board. He was a lifetime member of the Beemerville Cemetery Association. Lifetime member of the Sussex County Board of Agriculture where he served as President in the 1970’s and was a Director of the NJ Farm Bureau. Fred served on the NJ Fish and Game Council from 1963-1971 where he served as Chairman from 1969-1971. He was a lifetime member of the NRA, NJ Trapper’s Association, National Trapper’s Association, and a founding member of the Beemerville Hunting Club.
Fred wrote his first non-fiction book in 1965, “Facts about Snakes of the Northeast United States” and his 2nd in 2007 “Ralph Space, the Legend & Tales of Beemerville” showcasing his love of history and entwined history of Space Farms.
In Fred’s spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. He enjoyed spending time at his cabin in Colorado. He loved traveling with his wife, Mira, and spending time with his family.
He worked at Space Farms until his death.
Fred spent his days doing what he loved, working alongside his son Parker Space and his wife Jill, daughter Lori Space Day and her husband Doug, and grandson Hunter Space and his wife Caitlin at Space Farms Zoo & Museum.
Fred is the loving husband for 46 years to Mira (nee Ludvicek). He is also the loving father to his son Eric C. Space and his wife Linda of Beemerville, and daughter Dr. Renee Space and her spouse Lizabeth Bloem of Woodbury, NJ. Fred’s cherished grandchildren, Eric W. Space and his wife Stephanie of Sparta, Meghan Jaust and her husband Tom of Frankford, Mandy Jaust and her husband Matt of Frankford, Jackie Day and her husband Mark Tarnecki of Hoboken, Lindsey Space and her fiancé Dominic Butti of Orlando, FL, Kelsey Space of Beemerville, Melissa Chin and her husband Damion of Chester, VA, Jean-Paul LaRue and his wife Amanda of Cache, OK and Jean-Pierre LaRue of Woodbury, NJ and his 21 great grandchildren, his two sisters, Loretta Dunn of Beemerville, NJ and Edna Neibanck of Bertram, TX and his stepson, Jay Reitschmied and his wife Jill of Lawrenceville, NJ and is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Fred was predeceased by a granddaughter, Laura Reitschmied and two great grandchildren.
A “walk through” visitation will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at the Space Farms Main Building, 218 Route 519, Wantage, NJ from 9am-1pm. Graveside/Firemens services will follow at 2PM at the Beemerville Cemetery, Beemerville, NJ. If attending the Graveside services please bring a chair. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 75 people, with masks are allowed in the building at any one time. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Wantage Fire Department or The Wantage First Aid Squad, at 888 Route 23, Wantage, NJ 07461. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Ferguson Funeral Home 27 Third Street, Sussex, NJ. For directions and condolences see www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com.
He was a 1946 Graduate of Sussex High School and a 2nd Generation Owner and Zookeeper of Space Farms Zoo & Museum. Fred was a 77 year member of the Beemerville Fire Department, Fire Chief from 1951-1953. He was a founding member of the Kittatinny Recreation Association, the forerunner of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce. His service to the community was numerous. He served on the Sussex Wantage Board of Education and served 35 years on the Wantage Township Zoning Board. He was a lifetime member of the Beemerville Cemetery Association. Lifetime member of the Sussex County Board of Agriculture where he served as President in the 1970’s and was a Director of the NJ Farm Bureau. Fred served on the NJ Fish and Game Council from 1963-1971 where he served as Chairman from 1969-1971. He was a lifetime member of the NRA, NJ Trapper’s Association, National Trapper’s Association, and a founding member of the Beemerville Hunting Club.
Fred wrote his first non-fiction book in 1965, “Facts about Snakes of the Northeast United States” and his 2nd in 2007 “Ralph Space, the Legend & Tales of Beemerville” showcasing his love of history and entwined history of Space Farms.
In Fred’s spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. He enjoyed spending time at his cabin in Colorado. He loved traveling with his wife, Mira, and spending time with his family.
He worked at Space Farms until his death.
Fred spent his days doing what he loved, working alongside his son Parker Space and his wife Jill, daughter Lori Space Day and her husband Doug, and grandson Hunter Space and his wife Caitlin at Space Farms Zoo & Museum.
Fred is the loving husband for 46 years to Mira (nee Ludvicek). He is also the loving father to his son Eric C. Space and his wife Linda of Beemerville, and daughter Dr. Renee Space and her spouse Lizabeth Bloem of Woodbury, NJ. Fred’s cherished grandchildren, Eric W. Space and his wife Stephanie of Sparta, Meghan Jaust and her husband Tom of Frankford, Mandy Jaust and her husband Matt of Frankford, Jackie Day and her husband Mark Tarnecki of Hoboken, Lindsey Space and her fiancé Dominic Butti of Orlando, FL, Kelsey Space of Beemerville, Melissa Chin and her husband Damion of Chester, VA, Jean-Paul LaRue and his wife Amanda of Cache, OK and Jean-Pierre LaRue of Woodbury, NJ and his 21 great grandchildren, his two sisters, Loretta Dunn of Beemerville, NJ and Edna Neibanck of Bertram, TX and his stepson, Jay Reitschmied and his wife Jill of Lawrenceville, NJ and is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Fred was predeceased by a granddaughter, Laura Reitschmied and two great grandchildren.
A “walk through” visitation will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at the Space Farms Main Building, 218 Route 519, Wantage, NJ from 9am-1pm. Graveside/Firemens services will follow at 2PM at the Beemerville Cemetery, Beemerville, NJ. If attending the Graveside services please bring a chair. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 75 people, with masks are allowed in the building at any one time. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Wantage Fire Department or The Wantage First Aid Squad, at 888 Route 23, Wantage, NJ 07461. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Ferguson Funeral Home 27 Third Street, Sussex, NJ. For directions and condolences see www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com.