Edwina D. Freund

Edwina D. Freund, 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Villa Loretta Nursing Home in Mt. Calvary. She was born in Jericho, WI on February 12, 1925 to Frank and Emelda (Sabel) Buechel. Edwina attended Holy Trinity Grade School in Jericho. On April 27, 1948, she married Clarence Freund at Holy Trinity Church, also in Jericho. He preceded her in death on February 17, 2000.



Edwina loved fishing, especially sturgeon spearing, and was known as the “Sturgeon Queen of 1988” for spearing the largest sturgeon of the year. She also enjoyed her flower gardens, playing Bingo, baking for her family, the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Brewers.



During WWII, Edwina began working at various war-time factories in Milwaukee. She was one of many female workers that during the war were nicknamed “Rosie the Riveter”. For 15 years, Edwina and Clarence operated their own mink farm in St. Peter. Once her children were grown, she worked at Grancare Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Fond du Lac and lastly at Tecumseh Products in New Hew Holstein for 14 years.



Edwina was a member of St. Peter Church – Holy Family, the St. Peter Altar and Rosary Society, Abler-Engel Post 454 American Legion Auxiliary of Mt. Calvary, and Sturgeon for Tomorrow. When her sons were younger, she was a Den Mother for the Cub Scout den in St. Peter.



She was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed having her family, especially the grandchildren around her.



Survivors include four daughters, Patricia (Paul) Buechel of St. Peter, Donna (Jerome) Lefeber of Charlesburg, Annette (Michael) Lefeber of St. Joe and Diane (Wayne) Keifenheim of Mt. Calvary; four sons, Earl Freund, Steve Freund, Wayne (Carrie) Freund and Stan (Lori) Freund, all of St. Peter; twenty-three grandchildren, Mary Jean, Bob and Bonnie Hug, Brett (Nicki) Buechel, Craig (Britany) Buechel, Paula (Jason) Heller, Brian (Dorota) Lefeber, Scott (Sara) Lefeber, Jacqueline (Lionel) Rivas, Michelle (Bob) Benson, Andy (Pam) Lefeber, Shane, Zachary and Blaine Freund, Kurt (Tracie) Freund, Todd (Reilly) Freund, Alicia Keifenheim, Brittnee, Brooke, Brady, Brianna, Braylee and Braeden Freund; twenty-four great-grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Gladys Woelfel of New Holstein; two sisters-in-law, Agnes and Mary Freund; a brother-in-law, Victor (Esther) Freund of Fond du Lac; nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and lastly her very special friends, Karen Forward and Rose Rausch.



She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Emelda; her husband, Clarence; a daughter, Mary Hug; four sisters, Dorothy (Reggie) Weinreis, Lucinda (Roy) Olsen, Lucille (Glenn) Helgemoe and Theresa (Bill) Meyer; five brothers, Clarence Buechel, her twin, Edmund (Elsie) Buechel, LeRoy (Loretta Grube) Buechel, Elroy (Pat) Buechel and Sylvester Buechel; three sisters-in-law, Bernice (Alois) Braun, Genevieve (Art) Gellings and Ruth (Orlando) Schmitz; and three brothers-in-law, Elmer (Clarissa) Freund, Melvin Freund and Orville Freund.



Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Sunday, February 25, 2018 at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Ave. in Fond du Lac. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 26, 2018 at St. Peter Church – Holy Family, N8079 Church Rd. in Malone with visitation beginning at 9:00 AM and continuing until the time of the service. Burial in St. Peter Parish Cemetery will follow the services.



In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Congregation of Sister Servants of Christ the King and Cristo Rey Ranch, located in Mt. Calvary.



The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Villa Loretto Nursing Home, the Congregation of Sister Servants of Christ the King, Dr. Strong and NP Denise GatienBrux.