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Obituary for Charles J. Freeberg
Charles Jens Freeberg (Charlie), West Sweden Township, age 95, died Aug. 22, 2009. He was born June 22, 1914 in Clam Falls to Katie and Ernest Friberg. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Katie; wife, Ruby; brother, Nealie; and sister-in-law, Eleanor; brother-in-law, Wilbert; and sister-in-law, Evelyn. He is survived by his son, Brian (Teresa); daughter, Carol (Tom); 8 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; nieces, Joanne, Karen and Joyce; nephew, Charles; and many cousins and countless friends. Charlie was raised in West Sweden on the family farm and graduated from Frederic High School. After completing teacher training, he taught in numerous area one-room schools. He changed careers when he and his brother, Nealie started Lewis Oil Company. He then became the postmaster in Lewis, followed by 30-plus years as a rural mail carrier out of Luck, and he finished his carrier as postmaster in Frederic. Charlie and Ruby built their retirement home on Diamond Lake in 1976 next door to his brother, Nealie and wife, Eleanor. The brothers partnered in ongoing projects, hobbies and adventures through the years such as hunting, archery, fishing, traveling, camping, snowmobiling, ice fishing, building canoes, boats, clocks, and camping trailers, raising dairy cows, beef cattle, chickens, turkeys and pigs while farming the fields of their immigrant grandparents, planting and logging their trees, growing strawberries and other garden crops, tapping maple trees, starting an orchard - but always taking time to nurture the love and caring relationships of family and friends. The brothers' creativity even extended to changing the spelling of their last name to Freeberg when they were youngsters. Charlie served his country during WWII in the U.S. Army and he worked in the shipyards in Superior prior to his induction. He was a dedicated member of the American Legion after the war, faithfully making pancakes in Frederic for many years for Sunday morning breakfasts. Charlie served on the Lewis School Board, the Grace Lutheran and Pilgrim Lutheran church councils, was a 4-H leader, served on the Lewis Cemetery Board for 30-plus years, received the distinction of membership in the Masonic Lodge for over 67 years, and even found time to generously donate many gallons of blood through the years. He and his wife, Ruby enjoyed a wonderful marriage of 65 years until she passed away in 2006. Charlie has maintained his residence at Comforts of Home in Frederic for the past year and a half but also loved to have precious visits “at the lake.” Funeral services were held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 with Pastor Catherine Burnette officiating. Music was provided by soloist, Gaylen Brown and organist, Mary Lou Daeffler. Pallbearers were Charles Martin, Greg Engelhart, Jerry Olafson, Joe Schommer, Lon Hansen and Jeff Schefelker. Interment was at the Lewis Cemetery. Rowe Funeral Home of Frederic, Wisconsin was entrusted with funeral arrangements. For information call 715-327-4475.
