Raphael H. ‘Ray’ Freund, 78
Published 7:01 am Sunday, November 20, 2016
Raphael H. “Ray” Freund, 78 of Austin, Minnesota, formerly of Adams, Minnesota, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at St. Marks Living in Austin.
Raphael Henry Freund was born July 6, 1938, at Osage, Iowa, the son of Isidore and Catherine (Klapperich) Freund. He graduated from Adams High School in 1956 and served in the National Guard. Ray married Ruth Ann Wencl on May 9, 1964, at the Litomysl Catholic Church. Ray was a glazier and worked for the Glass Shop of Austin, Smitty’s Glass and Lock of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Harmon Glass in Minneapolis. He did commercial glass installations at the Excel Center, Underwater World at the Mall of America and IKEA in the metro area.
Ray was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg, Minnesota, Catholic Aid, the Eagles, Adams American Legion Post No. 146 and the Painters and Allied Trades Union. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing and spending quality time with his children and grandchildren. He loved listening to music and singing. Ray enjoyed grilling, picnics and his German heritage, including brats and beer.
Ray is survived by his wife, Ruth Freund, Austin; children, Rose (Ron) DeVries, Hollandale, Minnesota, Randy (Laura) Freund, Adams, Rick (Tracy) Freund, Superior, Wis., Ron (Linda) Freund, Circle Pines, Minnesota, Roger Freund, Moundsview, Minnesota, Roy (Denise) Freund, Spring Valley, Minnesota and Ryan Freund, Osage; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Ardella Dahle, Placerville, California, Lucille Blaser, Osage, Bertilla Noble, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mary Orth, Backus, Minnesota, and Angela Smith, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; brother and sister-in-law: John and Jeanne Freund, Caledonia, Minnesota; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Phyllis Freund, Austin, Rita and Walt Miller, Fountain Hills, Arizona, Larry and Phyllis Wencl, Owatonna, and John and Diane Chmelik, Owatonna; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by siblings, Lucina Blaser, Del Freund and Virginia Elliott; brothers and sisters-in-law, Howard Dahle, Gervis Blaser, Kenny Blaser, Dean Elliott, Larry Orth, Donald Smith and John Wencl.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Johnsburg, with Father Swaminatha Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery with Adams Post No. 146 in charge of military honors. A rosary service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Adams Funeral Home, where visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and at the church for one hour before the service on Monday.
Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.