Lester L. “Fritz” Fruend, age 85, of the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County, died Saturday, March 19, 2011, at his home, under the care of his family and Ministry Home Care Hospice.
Les was born April 5, 1925, in the home on the family farm in the Town of Pine River, son of the late William C. and Lydia (Rennegarbe) Fruend. Les served in the U.S. Army Occupation Forces in Europe after World War II. He married Doris E. Mattson on February 20, 1946, in Merrill. She survives. Les purchased the family farm in 1947 and continued the dairy operation until his retirement around 1990. Les received many awards during his career including that of Farmer Conservationist. He was a member of the board of directors at the Federal Land Bank in Wausau for 20 years, serving as its president for 17 of those years. Les was also a representative for both the N.F.O. and A.M.P.I. Les was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill, were he served as an usher, and was also a member of the building committee that dedicated the church addition in 1999. His family will remember him as an outstanding man, husband, father, dairy farmer, business man, and community leader.
Survivors besides his wife, Doris Fruend of Merrill are his eight children, Peggy (Wayne) Klammer, Merrill, Alice (Terry) Prueser, Gleason, and Sally (Louis) Yellstrom, Barb (Greg) Spoehr, Deanna Fruend, Brian (Peggy) Fruend, Janet (Lee) Wardall, and Lucy (Jesse) Callahan, all of Merrill; 10 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; two sisters, Ruffina Hagedorn and Alice Bacher, both of Merrill; and one brother, Wilbert (Evelyn) Fruend, Sheboygan. Les is preceded in death by one grandson, Mitchell Fruend; two sisters, Evelyn Zastrow and Helen Schenk; and one brother, Hubert Fruend.
The funeral will be at 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 25, 2011, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. David Szeto will officiate. Burial will take place in Merrill Memorial Park with graveside military rites conducted by the Merrill V.F.W. Post 1638 Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and again after 9:30 A.M. Friday at the church.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com
Wausau Daily Herald: full obit, with photo, for Monday, March 21, 2011.
Merrill Foto News: full obit, with photo, for March 23, 2011.
Merrill Courier: full obit, with photo, for March 25, 2011
Pastor Szeto