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William Robert Frei was born November 10, 1927 to Frank and Mary (Roberts) Frei. He was delivered at Bay Port, MI by the village midwife, his grandmother, Elizabeth Roberts. After graduation from Arthur Hill High School in 1945 he served in the U. S. Navy near the end of WWII, stationed at San Francisco. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Nancy Russell, on August 30, 1947. They had met at the wedding of their friends, Midge and Milton Wiltse. Bill attended the University of Michigan and Bay City Junior College studying to become an engineer. Family obligations precluded completion of his degree, but his inventiveness, intelligence and attention to detail earned him a productive, lifelong engineering career with Saginaw Steering Gear. He retired in 1989 to pursue golf, sand dragster racing, sailing, reading and many other interests. Bill and Nancy were blessed with five children, fifteen grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren, with three more great-grandchildren due. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 62 years, Nancy; his children: Bob (Nila) Frei of Beaverton, Bruce (Julie) Frei of Bloomfield Hills, Andrea Bowns of Bay City, Steve Frei of Shelby Twp., and Brian (Joan) Frei of Helena, Alabama; his grandchildren, Heather, David, Julie, Aimee, Megan, Joshua, Cari, Robyn, Aletha, Daniel, Richard, Michael, Janelle, Ranae and Russell; and great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Stephanie, Daniel, Brody, Riley, Avery, Jordan, Jared, Matthew, Amber, Morgan, Hannah, Evelyn, Olivia, Logan, Owen and Nathan. He is also survived by three aunts: Mary Durkee, Helen Deering and Pauline Cherry; and many nieces, nephews and in-laws. He is predeceased by a great-granddaughter, Mia Hite; his sister, Betty Mix; and his brother Ron. A memorial service will be held at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 6065 King Road, Bridgeport, MI at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009; Rev. Steven Abend will officiate. Visitation with the family will be held the same day from 10 a.m. until the time of service. A dinner will follow in the church fellowship hall. Interment at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, American Cancer Society, or Mia Hite Memorial Fund. |
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