John R. Frein passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 at the Adams Health Care Center. He was 86 years old.
John was born on Feb. 24, 1922, to Matthew  and Elizabeth (Gilles) Frein in Stacyville, Iowa. He grew up in that area along with one brother and eight sisters. Because of the early death of his father he did not go into the military but served in the Civilian Conservation Corps for two years. He was a humble man and never forgot where his roots were.
John married Florentina (Flossy) Allas on June 28, 1947 in Austin, Minn. They lived there for eight years where he started “FreinTrucking Service” and operated it for a short time  before starting his employment at the Hormel Plant.  In 1955 he and his wife bought a small farm and moved to Adams, Minn. where they raised 11 children along with animals and crops. The family moved back to Austin in 1972. He retired from the Hormel Co. in 1982 after 34 years of service.
John leaves behind a wonderful legacy for all those who knew and loved him. He had a great passion for singing country music and playing the guitar. He loved people and enjoyed entertaining them with his music and songs when ever he had the opportunity to do so.  He “cut” a couple of records in his early years but never got too serious about making a living with his music. That decision is probably what allowed him to just entertain and do it for fun. 
He also had a great sense of humor right up to the end of his life.  He had a joke to tell, no matter where he was or who he was with. Because macular degeneration had taken away his eyesight several years earlier he had trouble distinguishing who his many visitors were. He jokingly called all the girls “Susie” and all the guys “Pete”. John is survived by his wife: Flossy, of 61 years; five sons and daughter-in-laws, Dave (Gail), Austin, Minn., Chuck (Marianne) of Austin, Minn., Steve (Marietta), Plainview, Minn., Gary (Julie), Grand Meadow, Minn., Ed (Maureen), Battle Creek, Mich.; and six daughters and son-in-laws: Helen (Greg) Coffman, Wabasha, Minn., Pat (Larry) Wobschall, Austin, Minn., Kathy Meyer (Sam Schilling), Byron, Minn., Mary (Mike) Kepp, Rochester, Minn., Sharon (Tom) Wobschall, Austin, Minn. and Judy (Tim) Monson, Wabasha, Minn. Also surviving are 29 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; two sisters: Gert (Ed) May and Joann Heimer, both of Adams, Minn.; nieces, nephews and many life long friends.He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and five sisters.
A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m., on Monday, Dec. 22, 2008 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin, with Father Joe Fogal officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at the Mayer Funeral Home on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 from 3 to 6 p.m. and at the church one hour before the service on Monday. There will be a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday evening.