Kenneth Freitag

Kenneth W. Freitag, age 87 of rural Pemberton, passed away peacefully with his wife at his side, on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Laurels Peak Rehabilitation Center in Mankato. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 1st at 11:00 A.M., at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in St. Clair with Rev. Matthew Grunewald, officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, from 4 to 7 P.M. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville, and will continue Thursday morning for one hour prior to services, at church. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred.

Kenneth William was born October 20, 1925 in McPherson Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota to William Henry and Clara Augusta (Grams) Freitag. He was baptized November 15, 1925 and confirmed April 2, 1939, at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in St. Clair. Ken graduated from St. Clair High School in 1943. He entered military service in the U.S. Army in January of 1945, and was stationed in Japan during WWII. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his valor, and honorably discharged in November of 1946. On August 24, 1948 he was united in marriage to LaVerne Agnes Borneke at Salem Lutheran Church in Eagle Lake. Ken and LaVerne raised their family and farmed in McPherson Township. Over the years Ken also worked seasonally for Birds Eye in Waseca. He retired from farming in 1996. Ken was a lifelong member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in St. Clair, and a longtime member and Past Commander of the St. Clair American Legion Post # 475. He had formerly served on the Church Council and Board of Elders, and the McPherson Township Board of Directors. He enjoyed fishing, and dancing, and loved to follow his children and grandchildren's school sporting events. He also enjoyed following the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.

He is survived by his wife LaVerne; by his children Steven (Lisa) Freitag of Becker, Thomas (Luann) Freitag of Janesville, and Zandra (Duane) Jindra of Hutchinson; 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; by many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ordella Scholljegerdes; brothers-in-law, Robert Borneke and James Borneke.