Frederick L. "Fred" Walliser, age 79 of Elwood, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Waters Edge Village in Muncie following a full, well-lived life.  He was born August 11, 1940 in Lebanon, the son of Louis H. and Martha (Grisel) Walliser.  Fred was a 1958 graduate of Lebanon High School and then served in the U.S. Army with the rank of Specialist during the Vietnam War.  After his military service, he was accepted into the Indiana State Police Academy for specialized training.  Fred married Kay Richardson on August 27, 1961 at the First Baptist Church in Lebanon, and they shared nearly 58 years of marriage together.  He formerly worked at Collins Printing Co. and the Lebanon Police Department.  Fred served with the Indiana State Police as a Master Trooper for 33 years and retired in 2000.  During his tenure with the State Police, he worked as a specialized trainer in various aspects of law enforcement including 5 classifications in Firearms; Defensive Tactics; First Aid & CPR; Defensive driving; Radar; and Vascar.  He most recently worked for the Indiana State Gaming Commission as a detective for 5 years.  Fred was well-known in martial arts as a Grand Master with a 9 ^th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and the rare designation of Soke-Grand Master.  He was the owner and lead instructor at the "House of Kim" martial arts studio in downtown Elwood for over 50 years.  Fred was passionate about teaching and impacted countless people of all ages through years of teaching, private instruction, and martial arts expositions in Elwood and throughout the state of Indiana.  He was assisted by his son, Rammie, for many years.  Fred was Past-President of the American Muay Thai Association (AMTA).  His years of martial arts experience enabled him to develop his own unique combat martial art form called Tae-Kyon-Jitsu-Do.

Fred was a member East Main Street Christian Church in Elwood; a life member of the Lebanon Masonic Lodge #9, and member of the Elwood American Legion Post 53.  He especially loved boating and sailing for many years with family and friends, enjoyed fishing, and never missed an opportunity to listen to Jimmy Buffet music.  Fred was honored to receive Indiana's highest recognition as a "Sagamore of the Wabash" in December of 1979 presented by Governor Otis Bowen.  Fred was known for being a "people person" and greeted nearly everyone he met with a smile.  More than anything, Fred was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be greatly missed.

Fred's family legacy includes his wife, Kay Walliser of Elwood; daughter, Belinda B. Wright of Elwood; sister, Cheryl (husband Ed) Brown of Crawfordsville; daughter-in-law, Lorrie Walliser of Anderson; 7 grandchildren, James Trevor Wright, Jessie Wright, Kendra Nevitt, Austin (Anthony) Schulmeyer, Cole (Candice) Schulmeyer, Joey Allen, and Emily (Josh) Foshee; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.  Fred was preceded in death by his parents; son, Rammie Walliser in 2016; special nephew, Jeff Richardson; and cousin, Patty Wells.

A funeral service celebrating Fred's life will be conducted at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at East Main Street Christian Church in Elwood with Rev. Roger Gardner and Dr. Riley Walker officiating.  The Indiana State Police will provide honors for Fred's service, and military honors will take place following the funeral by the U.S. Army, the Elwood V.F.W. Honor Guard, and Fred's friend, Master Sergeant Robert Shea Mills.  Cremation will take place following the funeral.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 8 pm on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood and will include a Masonic Lodge Memorial Ritual at 7:00 pm.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Elwood "Shop-With-A-Cop" program through the funeral home.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at copherfeslermay.com.