Fourth Generation

57. Walter John FRIESKE was born on 23 December 1918 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^6,18,35 He appeared in the census in 1920 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶ He appeared in the census in 1930 in Glendale Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵ Walter died on 14 April 2007 at the age of 88 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^6,35

Obituary Notes: "Walter J. Friske, 88, of Tomah died Saturday, April 14, 2007, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tomah. He was born December 23, 1918 to Ferdinand and Lena (Siekert) Friske at Sparta.

He was united in marriage to Ruby Gray on February 16, 1947, at Kendall. In 1940 Walter enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked the U.S. Fleet on December 7, 1941. He was a member of Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201, a member of Curtis-McNutt V.F.W. Post #1832, a member of the Mauston Chapter of the D.A.V., and a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Association.

He was a longtime and faithful member of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church at Kendall. Prior to his retirement he farmed near Kendall. Walter was a hardworking, loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his wife Ruby of Tomah, two sons Carl of New Lisbon and Wayne (Peggy) of Elroy, two daughters Shirley (Gary) Schweiger of Elroy and Sharon (Mike) Grutt of Menomonie, 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law Leila Friske of Elroy, a brother-in-law Omer (Ethel) Gray of Reedsburg, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter Crystal Lynn, 4 brothers Bernard, Arnold, Robert and Theodore, 2 sisters Grace Reko and Sophia Genz.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 11 a.m. at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Kendall. Pastor Conrad Prell will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in the South Ridge Lutheran Cemetery in the town of Wellington. Relatives and friends are invited to call at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church on Monday from 4 until 8 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until time of the service.

A prayer service will be held at 7:45 p.m. Monday evening at the church."

Walter John FRIESKE and Ruby L. GRAY were married on 16 February 1947 in Kendall, Glendale Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁵ Ruby L. GRAY⁹ was born (date unknown).

Walter John FRIESKE and Ruby L. GRAY had the following children:

69	i.	Carl Eugene FRIESKE was born on 3 June 1950 in Rockford, Rockford Township, Winnebago County, IL.³⁷ He died on 5 May 2010 at the age of 59 in New Lisbon, Juneau County, WI.³⁷ Obituary Notes: "Carl Eugene Friske, 59, of New Lisbon, died Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at his residence. He was the son of Walter and Ruby (Gray) Friske and was born on June 3, 1950, in Rockford, IL. Carl was raised on the family farm outside of Kendall. He later moved to and worked in Tomah, where he drove truck. Carl had lived for the past 10 years in New Lisbon. He enjoyed gardening, riding motorcycle and working with his hands. He is survived by his daughters, Meghann Madigan of Tomah and Shannon (Troy) Kleinsmith of Holmen; his mother, Ruby Friske of Elroy; two sisters, Shirley (Gary) Schweiger of Elroy and Sharon (Mike) Grutt of Menomonie; a brother, Wayne (Peggy) Friske of Elroy; grandchildren Madelynn Hammond and Hannah Towne; a niece, Jenelle Kessler; three nephews, Steven (Natalie) Friske, Greg Schweiger and Nolan Schroeder; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Friske, and a niece, Crystal Friske. Private family services are being planned. Dad, we wish things could have been different, but we love you and always will. Love, your daughters."
70	ii.	Wayne FRIESKE was born (date unknown).
71	iii.	Shirley FRIESKE was born (date unknown).
72	iv.	Sharon FRIESKE was born (date unknown).