Fred Lauff, age 99, passed away on May 7, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, following an unexpected illness. He was born on November 18, 1926, in Pforzheim, Germany, and lived a long and remarkable life marked by ingenuity, humor, service, and love of his family and friends.Fred was the loving husband of the late Elinor Virginia Marie Lauff (Houttekier), and the only child of the late Max Lauff and Gertrude Helene Lauff (Schnirring). He is survived by his beloved children, Gary Ronald Lauff; Linda Susan Vogt and her husband, Jon; Karen Ardis Sapp and her husband, Richard. He was a proud grandfather to Andrea Marie Hoogewind and her husband, Scott; Jessica Celine Vogt, Nicholas Jacob Vogt, Marissa Alyse Sapp, Kayla Ariana Aten and her husband, Dilon, Jason Aaron Sapp and his fiancee, Kylie. He cherished his great-grandchildren Kaleb Nicholas Stott, Scarlett Rose Hoogewind, Ryker Scott Hoogewind, Ridley Jayce Aten, Royce Wade Aten, Rowan Shay Aten, and Kade Aaron Sapp. Fred is also survived by his dearly loved relatives in Germany; Inge, Herbert and Michael Geisler and Gerhardt and Hanne Lauff. Fred felt deep regret for not being able to go back to Germany to meet them.Fred was raised in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and was a graduate of Lakeview High School, where he met Elinor. Fred later married Elinor and they raised their family and lived in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Fred relocated to Kentwood, Michigan for a more lucrative work opportunity. After living several years in Kentwood, Fred moved back to the southeast Michigan area. He then lived in Islamorada, Florida Key and in Punta Banda, Baja California, Mexico for many years. Fred moved back home to Michigan, where he lived the last two years of his life with his family by his side. Fred served his country as a veteran of the United States Marine Corps during WWII. He completed his basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina and then received additional training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He earned specialized military training at the United States Marine Corps Engineer School, Engineer Battalion, Specialist Training Regiment, and pursued Marine Training Command Drafting. Fred drafted detailed drawings of gasoline marine engines. He was also responsible for drafting plans for housing and various facilities for prisoners of war. Recognizing Fred’s talents, his superior officer selected him to draft blueprints for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber planes in WWII, known for being the only aircraft to deliver nuclear weapons in combat. Fred drafted plans instructing B-29 pilots how to measure their flying altitude when navigating through mountain fog during their mission.Fred carried the discipline and resourcefulness of his military service throughout his life. Following his service with the Marines, he mentored and worked with his father, Max Lauff, at the family-owned Lauff Tool & Die company in Utica, Michigan. He was then promoted to a Liaison Sales Engineer and coordinated between designing, production and manufacturing of specialized tool and die work. He additionally pursued plastic injection molding with integrated trim applications within the automotive industry. He was a member of the Society of Plastic Molding Engineers. In his later years, he became a successful realtor.Fred was an exceptionally creative man with the mind of an inventor. He was always tinkering, always imagining, and often thinking ahead of his time. With a high school friend, he invented, designed and manufactured the Jiffy Arc, a precursor to the soldering gun. He had the idea of creating velcro before there was a patent on it, as he envisioned it by how two brushes fit together to hold a bond. He also had a fascination with plastic vacuum form molding and purchased a machine that allowed him to create molds used for his wife Elinor’s cake decorating business. His inventive spirit never seemed to rest, and he found joy in solving problems, improving existing designs, and making everyday items work better. He continued to amaze those around him with the clever devices he created from repurposing ordinary items. This was a life-long habit that he acquired from having lived through the Great Depression.Fred was a curious man who had a constant thirst for knowledge and who loved to engage with others to share his knowledge and teach you something you may not have known. He was also a very sentimental man. He would salute his flag and blow a kiss to the portraits of his family members he proudly displayed on his dresser every morning and at night before bed. He also could never go to bed without saying he was sorry for anything he may have done to offend you, that he loved you, and giving you a kiss on the cheek. He was a very sweet and special man that way.Those who knew him will remember his sharp wit, his off-color humor, and the many stories he loved to tell. He was funny, intelligent, and interesting, and he had a way of making people feel entertained and intrigued with his presence. Friends and family alike were often drawn to his lively conversation and his remarkable memory for the details of a long and eventful life.Fred enjoyed photography and owned several professional cameras. He loved shooting family movies on holidays and special occasions. Fred was also a gifted musician who enjoyed playing in big bands in the late 1940's playing the alto and tenor saxophone. Music, like invention and photography, were various ways he expressed his gregarious personality and his love of life.Fred made many dear friends in Mexico and he frequently talked about all of those fond memories that meant so much to him. Fred maintained those very special friendships throughout the end of his life. Fred yearned to reunite with his family and move back to Michigan, as he took great pride in watching each generation grow that followed him. It was with sheer gratitude and pleasure that his family got to spend his last years with him rekindling all those early family memories (and making new ones), while back home in Michigan. Truly, full circle, back to his roots.Fred took great pride in his American heritage and his fellow man. He considered it a great honor to be a Marine and it was of great importance to him to be spread with his fellow soldiers and returned to earth and nature. Fred will be cremated and his remains will be scattered amongst his fellow military battalions at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. A private ceremony (immediate family only) with full military honors, (including Taps, a 21 gun salute, and a folding of the flag presentation) will be held there at a time yet to be determined.A Celebration of Life will also be announced at a later date in honor of what would have been Fred's 100th birthday (November 18, 2026). The exact date of Fred's Celebration of Life is yet to be determined.