M. Dale Frei

Dale was born Oct. 30, 1934 in Fairwater, Wis., son of the late Melvin and Margaret (Kobeal) Frei. He graduated from Markesan High School in 1953 and attended the University of Oshkosh for one year before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.

After serving his country, Dale returned home and married the late Marjorie (Michaels) Frei on June 28, 1958. They shared 57 years of devoted marriage together while raising five girls in Kingsford where they entertained the neighborhood kids in the pool that Dale dug with his own hands.  Later in their marriage, Dale visited his wife every day in the nursing home for the many years she spent there until her passing in 2015. 

Dale was a manager at Prudential Insurance Company for 30 years, where he received numerous awards before retiring in 1990. 

He also received many awards for his dedication to improving the community and he served on several boards including the original Community Service Center, Police and Firefighter Pension (44 years), Trico (45 years), Armory Advisory Board, and was past chairman of the Community Schools Board.

Dale was a member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, where he also served on the board for many years.

Dale loved his family and was an excellent father, grandfather, great-grandfather and was a pillar of strength to all of them.

Every year he planted a huge pumpkin patch and put up a sign on the fence of the patch with all of his great-grandchildrens names on it so they could see it when they came up every fall to pick pumpkins and bake with their Great Grandpa Frei. Dale loved breakfast at Maple Creek, hunting, fishing, the Packers, and gardening. His flower and vegetable gardens were second to none and were the first stop when you came to visit before he took you on a pontoon ride down the Menominee River. 

Dale loved to build and develop property in the local area and was proud to put his own stamp of approval on them by naming the roads Dalmar Drive (Dale and Marge) Drive and Frei Drive.

He is survived by five daughters, Debbie (Scott) Lindholm of Lake Orion, Mich., Tammy (Bill) VanVreede of Traverse City, Mich., Tina (Terry) Rice of Breitung Township, Becky (Mike) Messer of Green Bay, Wis., and Patti (Joe) Bronzyk of Breitung Township; one sister, Lori (Dee) Evans of Berlin, Wis.; grandchildren, Nicole (Brook) Mead, Jamie (Rob) Johnson, Jessica (Dave) Marsh, Michael (Jahaila) VanVreede, Dr. Tony (Tiffany) VanVreede, Billy (Briana) VanVreede, Katelyn (Nick) Shaffran, Bob Rice, Jim Rice, Kyle (Casey) Messer, Maria (Zach) Zimmerman, Thomas Whaley, Paige Whaley (Bryce Babiash), Alexa Bronzyk and Dane Bronzyk; great-grandchildren, Lleyton and Colette Mead, Charlee Johnson, Isla VanVreede, Nicholas, Ethan, Brendan VanVreede, Zoe and Skye VanVreede, Avery and Brantley Marsh and Zarina Ali; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his family members, he leaves behind his close friend and hunting and fishing partner, Russ Pietschmann.

Along with his wife, father and mother, Dale was preceded in death by his sisters, Lynn Kohl and Sally Vickroy, brother, Phillip Frei and grandson, Ryan Rice.

In accordance with current state and federal guidelines, a public visitation and service will be held at a later date and will be announced prior to that time. Burial will take place at the Quinnesec Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trico.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Dale Frei online at www.enashfuneralhomes.com

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.