FREIN, Joseph John 1894-1956

FREIN, HEMANN, MERRICK, WOLF

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/11/2011 at 10:56:04

#1:

Joseph Frein
Dies at Osage;
Rites Thursday

OSAGE, IOWA — Funeral rites will be at 9:30 Thursday at the Sacred Heart Church in Osage for Joseph Frein, 62, Osage post office employee.
He died Monday morning at the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital from a severe asthmatic condition and complications. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

He was born to Anton and Mary Frein at Stacyville, Iowa, in January 1894. He married Julia Hemann in 1916 and they came to Osage in 1927 where they have lived since.

He is survived by his wife, and 10 children, Mrs. Chris Merrick, McIntire; Donald and Wilmer of Forest City; Vernon (Dick), Garner; Harry, Mason City; Bill and Dean, Iowa City; Pvt. Marvin Frein at Camp Chatfee, Ark. Robert and Patricia, at home, four sisters, Mrs. Bill Jordan, Cedar Falls; Mrs. Jess Wilson Garner; Mrs. Art Wolf, Stacyville, and Mrs. Rudy Kasel, Marshalltown, and two brothers, Ed Frein, Lancaster, Calif., and Henry Frein, Waterloo. There are 16 grandchildren.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Tuesday, August 14, 1956]
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#2: (Biographical sketch)

JOSEPH AND JULIA FREIN

Julia Huemann was born in Meyer, Iowa, in 1894. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. John Huemann. Joseph John Frein was born in Stacyville, Iowa, in 1894. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Anton Frein. Anton Frein had immigrated to Stacyville from Boos, Germany when he was eleven.

Julia Huemann and Joseph Frein were united in marriage in 1916. Joseph served in the U.S. Army during World War I in France. During this time their first child was born, in 1918. This child's name was Donald. Eleven more children were born to this couple.

Around 1920, the family moved to Osage from Stacyville. Joseph Frein was engaged mostly in farming until being employed by the post office in Osage until his death in 1956.

The eldest son, Donald, served with the 34th Division in Italy and Sicily and was awarded the Purple Heart. Returning from service, he was married to Dorothy Rayhons from Garner, Iowa. He was engaged in farming in Garner and Forest City until he was killed in a farm accident around 1963.

The couple's second child, Mary Alice, was married to Chris Merrick. This couple still make their home in Osage. They have five children.

Jerome Frein, the third child, lost his life in World War II at Anzio, Italy. He served with the 802nd Airborne Division. His body resits in a United States cemetery at Nettuno, Italy. Brothers Bill and Marvin (Bud) have visited his grave site.

Vernon (Dick) Frein was also in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was employed by the Winnebago Company in Forest City until his retirement. He is married to Elaine Goll. They live in Garner, Iowa.

Wilmer Frein served his county during World War II in the Pacific. He was just recently decorated for heroism, belatedly, after a son-in-law discovered from records that he should have received the award. He was employed by Hancock County until he retired. He is married to Arlene Rayhons. They make their home in Garner, Iowa.

Harry Frein served in the U.S. Navy and was present at atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. He had an untimely death from lung cancer. He made his home in Mason City, Iowa, where his wife and children still reside.

William (Bill) Frein lived in Des Moines, Iowa, where he is employed by a milk firm. He had served in the U.S. Air Force in Germany. He, his wife, the former Alice Adams, and family moved to Des Moines from Osage after terminating employment there with McCoy Ice Cream Company.

Dean Frein was in the U.S. Navy in Guam. He was given a medical discharge after becoming ill with yellow jaundice. He never really recovered from the effects of this illness. He attended an Iowa university and was a news announcer on radio and television at Waterloo, Iowa. He died at about the age of fifty.

Marvin (Bud) Frein graduated from the College of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota. He served with the 803rd Engineer Battalion in Neu Ulm, Germany. He is at present an instructor with the Minneapolis Public School system.

Patricia Rae Frein, the second living daughter, is married to Dr. Donnell Ahrens from Rudd. She attended St. Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester. This couple make their home in Mason City.

Ruth Helen Frein was born before Patricia, [on January 9, 1935]. She died in infancy from pneumonia [on June 7, 1935]. She is buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Osage.

The last child born to Joseph and Julia Frein is Robert Frein. He is married to Marlene Daly. Robert (Bob) is employed by the city of Osage. Their three children also live in Osage.

Although Joseph Frein passed away in 1956, his wife still lives in her home at 1125 State Street in Osage. At the time of this publication, she is 94 years of age. The entire family remain lifetime members of the Catholic religon.

-- By Marvin A. Frein.

From MITCHELL COUNTY HISTORY, 1989
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#3:
Photo of Joseph and Julia from MITCHELL COUNTY HISTORY, 1989.

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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