Frey, Burtis Leon – 1914-2009

BAKER, FREY, TUFTS

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 6/9/2025 at 07:03:26

Burt Frey, 94, of Des Moines and formerly of Oskaloosa, IA died Friday at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. A private funeral service will be held Saturday, February 21. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation: 10 a.m., Friday, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. to greet visitors. Memorials may be made to an Endowed Scholarship at Simpson College in Indianola, IA.
Burtis Leon Frey, son of Allen Witmer and Lola Baker Frey was born on May 27, 1914 in Mingo, IA. A 1935 graduate of Mingo High School and 1939 graduate of Simpson College, he later received his masters at the University of Iowa. He married Dorothy Edith Wilson on June 29, 1941. He taught in Sidney and Audubon High Schools before taking a position at Oskaloosa High School as teacher and coach for one year, prior to entering the U. S. Navy where he served for two and a half years in Seattle, WA., and where his first son was born.
In 1946, Burt returned to Oskaloosa, where he taught physical education and coached high school football, basketball and track. In 1952 he became the Athletic Director and was head football coach. In 1955, he moved from coaching at the varsity level to Physical Education Director. Burt directed the Oskaloosa Relays for 24 years and was a football, basketball and track official until he retired as Athletic Director in 1977. He taught more than 10,000 students and coached over 1,000 individuals in various sports. He served as president of the Oskaloosa Education Association and was a lifetime member of the NEA, ISEA, AAHPER, IAHPER and the Iowa Assoc. of Athletic Directors. He was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at Simpson College. He was a director of Iowa State Senior Bowling Association; locally, he was awarded a place in the Bowling Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Y's-men Club, Kiwanis Club and served as president of both organizations. Burt also coached both of his sons' Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball Teams. After retirement, Burt's interests included golf and bowling with his friends, woodworking, and landscaping projects with his sons. During his later years he developed a close relationship with his grandson, Nicolas, who is a Senior at Princeton University and champion cyclist.
Burt's family includes his wife of 68 years, Edith, of Des Moines, IA, two sons and a daughter-in-law: Douglas Allan Frey of Des Moines, IA and Warren Bruce and Kelly Frey of Clinton, CT. He was blessed with one grandson, Nicolas, and 13 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by six brothers: Clarence, Morris, Roy, Harry, Harold and Paul Frey and by his three sisters: Florence Frey, Bertha Tufts and Grace Baker.
Source: Des Moines (IA) Register; Tuesday, February 17, 2009