Herman F. Freymiller
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MADISON - Herman F. Freymiller, 94, died peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022.
Herman was born May 26, 1927, to Eugene and Emma Freymiller in Woodman, Wis., where he resided until he entered high school. His senior year, he participated in a battery of tests to be educated as a language interpreter or engineer for the U.S. Armed Forces. Having passed the tests, he was sworn into service with the U.S. Army and served his term stateside. He was discharged in November of 1946.
In January of 1947, Herman enrolled at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in pursuit of a degree in education. He had a dual major in chemistry and physics and a minor in biology. In 1949 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. After graduation, he applied for and accepted teaching and coaching positions at the high school in Eagle River, Wis. He joined the faculty of 10 and became the new geography and chemistry teacher, and the new baseball coach and assistant basketball coach. Before he was able to settle into the position baseball coach, the program was eliminated, and he was recruited to become the assistant football coach.
In 1954, Herman met his soon to be bride. He had become well acquainted with his neighbors, Joe and Ethel Stein, through a local bowling league. On her visits home from beauty school, Joe and Ethel's niece, Marilou, would accompany them bowling. Herman and Marilou had a whirlwind courtship and were married in October of 1954.
With things changing at the high school in 1968, Herman was prompted to leave his teaching position of 19 years and seek employment elsewhere. Through friends, he learned of a teaching position at Madison Area Technical College (MATC) where he applied and was offered the position. He packed up the family and moved to Madison.
Herman taught for three years at MATC and then was promoted to an administrative role in the General Studies Department. After 18 years as an administrator, he retired and devoted his time to family and pursuit of his prized hobbies of travel and photography.
Herman was active in the community as a member of St. Dennis Parish where he was an usher and lector. Herman had joined the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison in 1975 and was a lifetime member. He devoted a great deal of his time to the club and initiated the annual Kiwanis Club Golf Outing to raise funds for various charities. Herman remained active in the club attending weekly meetings and participating in their civic bowling league as recently as this past November.
Herman is survived by his children, Mitchell (Gina Adel), Kevin (Irene Virnig), Sara (Kenneth) Siedenburg and Jennifer (Derrick) Blair; son-in-law, Rich Tompson; five grandchildren, Ian (Emmy), Katie and Rachel Tompson, and Maddi and Becca Siedenburg; and one brother, Alfred (Virginia) Freymiller.
Herman was preceded in death by his parents; wife; daughter, Gretchen Tompson; and three sisters, Ann (Erwin) Gebhard, Gladys (Robert) Nelson, and Olga (John) Lenz.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. Burial will take place at Highland Memory Gardens. A visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, and also at the church from 12 noon until the time of the Mass on Monday.
A Celebration of Herman's life will be held at TOKEN CREEK COUNTY PARK, Shelter No. 4, 6200 Williamsburg Way, DeForest, from 12 noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Downtown Madison Kiwanis Foundation. Please write on notation line: Herman Freymiller Scholarship Fund and mail to the Foundation Treasurer: Ken Koscik, 5507 Tonyawatha Trail, Monona, WI 53716-2924. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420