Most documents show birth year as 1933; however, headstone indicates year of birth as 1935.∼Wayne L. Freiberg, age 79, of East Tawas, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at Altercare of Big Rapids, Michigan. He was born January 24, 1933 in Luther, Michigan. The only child of Martin and Laura Freiberg of Grant Center, he was a direct descendant of Big Rapids pioneers, Johann and Johanna Freiberg. Wayne graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1951. He worked at the Pine Shop in Big Rapids and after high school served his country as an enlisted man in the Army. After returning from the service Wayne married Lois Gillette of Big Rapids, in January of 1957. They had two sons, Charles Martin Freiberg, of Big Rapids and Mark Lewis Freiberg of Rockford. For many years, Wayne resided in East Tawas Michigan and was employed by Bolen Asphalt Paving. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed trapping, hunting and fishing and often hunted on his family farm in Grant Center. Known to his friends as "Perky", Wayne had a wonderful sense of humor and was blessed to have many friends. Wayne is survived by his two sons, Charles (Connie) and Mark (Teresa), and seven grand children, Otto, Axel and Zofia Freiberg of Big Rapids, and Leilani May Scurti of Lambertville, NJ, Pualani Hansen, of Lowell, Kalani Wardynski of Howell and Alohilani May of Rockford. In conjunction with the Mohnke Funeral home of Big Rapids, visitation will be Thursday, March 22nd from 4 to 7 pm at Buresh-Kobs Funeral Home, 416 Whittemore Street in Tawas City. Funeral services will be held 11 am Friday, March 23 at Buresh-Kobs funeral home followed by a luncheon. Private burial for family and close friends will be held at Grant Center United Methodist Church Cemetery at 11 am on Saturday, March 24th.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation at www.mds-foundation.org/donate.