Lyle Freer

Lyle L. Freer, age 85, passed away peacefully at Lakewood Health Center in Staples, MN on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born in Isle on April 1, 1925, son of Eugene and Inez (Windsor) Freer. He graduated from Isle High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He attended college in Georgia and graduated from Brown Institute in Minneapolis in radio engineering. Upon graduation, he was employed by KWAD in Wadena as a radio announcer. Lyle and Marlyn Juergens were united in marriage on May 30, 1953 in the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena. During his 50 plus years as a resident of Wadena, Lyle was active in St. John Lutheran Church, the VFW, and the Lion’s Club. He was President of the Chamber of Commerce and also of the Jaycees. Lyle served as a Wadena County Commissioner for 13 years. He also owned several businesses in Wadena. Lyle will be remembered for his love of baseball. He played for his hometown Isle team, the Fergus Falls Red Sox, and the Wadena Chiefs. He coached the American Legion and VFW baseball teams from the 1960’s through the 1990’s, and was a pitching coach for the Wadena High School baseball team for several years. He was an active member of the Wadena Baseball Board and was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. Survivors include his beloved wife of 57 years, Marlyn; daughter Janet (Wayne) Freer of Annapolis, MD; sons David of Richfield, Mark (Paula) of Delano, Paul (Pam) of Buffalo, and Jon (Margo) of Royalton; grandchildren Jesse (Paula) of Greenfield, Delaney and Ethan of Buffalo; and great-grandchild Liam; brothers Merlyn (Lucille) of Dayton, OH, and Dean (Wanda) of Inver Grove Heights; sisters Eunice (Tilfred) Bue of Clarksfield, Carol (Paul) Bailey of Mora, and Deanna (Neal) Peterson of Arlington, VA. He was preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Inez; and brothers Duane and Darrell. Memorial services were held at St. John Lutheran Church at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8, 2010, with Pastor Stephen Meltzer officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Dick Grewe, Vernon Sinell, Harold “Skinny” Maitland, Gordon Haglund, Jesse Gleason, Delaney Freer, and Ethan Freer.

Lyle Freer

April 1, 1925 - October 5, 2010