Obituaries

 

James R. “Jim” Friedel

PORTAGE  --  James R. “Jim” Friedel, age 80, long time Portage resident and current resident of Wild Rose, WI and Ft. Myers, FL, passed away May 7, 2015 following a brief illness.

Jim was born Feb 1, 1935 in Madison WI.  In 1941, Jim, along with his brother Robert, were adopted by Paul and Blanche (Albee) Friedel of Beaver Dam, WI.  While in high school, he joined the US Army National Guard, and graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1952.  April 14, 1956 he married his high school sweetheart, Joan Griesbaum. During this time, Jim worked the family farm and at Luken Lumber in Beaver Dam. He served as a Sergeant 1st Class in the US Army until 1963, then worked at Waupun State Prison as a corrections officer.  Jim attended the State Patrol Academy and was selected by the Wisconsin State Patrol to serve as one of two Governor’s security officers. Jim was proud of and enjoyed his more than 30 years as a state trooper working with Governors Lucey, Schrieber, Dreyfus, Earl and Thompson.  After his retirement, Jim continued to work as the State Compliance Inspector for the Wisconsin Gaming Commission at the Wisconsin Dells Greyhound Park.  Jim was a member of Catholic Churches in Portage,  Wautoma and Ft. Myers, FL.  His life was the outdoors, his family and friends. He was a character who will be remembered by all who knew him as the man who has “never been better”.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Joan Friedel;  his daughter, Christine (John) Armentano, and his son, Michael (Sharyl) Friedel, both of Waupaca, WI;  granddaughters, Alyse Friedel of Ft Collins, CO and
Michelle Friedel of Portage, WI;  his brother, Robert Friedel of Corpus Christi, TX;  and two sisters, Susan and Charlene.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his son Mark, a brother-in-law, John Griesbaum, and a granddaughter, Mandy Jo Mariah, whom he looks forward to joining in heaven.  He is survived by other near relatives and dear friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015 at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portage, with Msgr. Raymond Kertz presiding.  Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015 at the church.

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)