Richard C Freygang

Richard C. Freygang, 98, of Fort Wayne, IN passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2023. He was born on August 21, 1925 to Carl and Clementine Freygang, the oldest of six kids.

Richard retired from GE after 40+ years of service in the wire mill, working swing shift and never turning down overtime. Many of those years at GE he rode his bike the three miles to and from work, no matter what time of day or night. He also worked odd jobs doing whatever needed to be done to provide for his family.

Richard loved squeezing the most out of life by being active in his Catholic faith as a daily Mass attendee, riding his bike, setting up the badminton net and golf tee each spring, ballroom dancing and square dancing with his wife, Martha. He made sure there was a basketball court in the backyard and everyone had ice skates in the winter to skate on our homemade rink or at the park. He kept his family active by leading walks, hikes, bike rides, camping (though he didn’t let on he didn’t like camping), fishing, checkers, board games, badminton battles with close friends, watching baseball and was an avid card player. He and Martha loved traveling to visit their kids and grandkids that lived out of town. They also traveled to places such as Medjugorje, the Vatican and Poland and just shy of all 50 states. On road trips with the family he and Martha lead the family in praying the rosary and upon returning to Indiana he would bellow the song, “Back Home Again in Indiana.”

He graduated from Central Catholic High School and attended DePaul University in Chicago. During his time at DePaul he met Martha at a dance his school and her school sponsored. He was a member of GE’s Quarter Century Club and the American Legion and Eagles.

Richard enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the heavy cruiser USS Augusta during WWII. He enjoyed telling stories of his time in the Navy serving as an electrician and a movie projectionist and sharing some of the things he learned during that time like how to make Egyptian one eyes. He was asked if he’d like to dine with President Truman while aboard his ship but being the humble, giving person he was he replied, “Let someone else have that chance.”

Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Martha Freygang, sister Pauline Kiproff (George, deceased) brother Howard (Charlotte, deceased), and daughter Patricia Samuels (Larry, deceased).

He is survived by his children Ayn Freygang (Robert Adams, deceased), Kay’d Odland (Dave), MaryAnn James (Ronald, deceased), Michael (Kim, deceased), James (Diane), William (Lisa), Edward (Yan), Laurie Whisler (Alan), Amy Freygang-Bogle (Andrew Bogle). Grandchildren: Joe, Jenny, Jessica, Raina, Scott, Riley, Eli, Hannah, Lisa, Sophia, Alexi, Nate, Luke, Kelley, Katie, Ben, Sarah, David, Tong Tong, Paul, Peter, Nick, Hollie, Josh, Austin, Adam, Rachel, Elizabeth, Michael, Mark Henry, Daniel, Edward. And great-grandchildren: Lillian, Valerie, Trooper, Judah, Josie, Emma, Virginia, Bella, Scarlett, Kimmie, Koen, Juliet, Elysium, Alaric, Marcelina, Mya, Emma, Jayden, Noah, Jakie, Lily, Evelyn, Claire, Nolan, Dean, Henry, Ben, Logan, Maxwell, Benjamin, Isabelle, Eliana, JoJo, Hudson, Bennett. He is also survived by siblings Kenneth (Jo, deceased), Roy (Julie, deceased), Doris Doucette (Steve, deceased), many nieces and nephews and good friends the Ahlersmeyers and Maurers.

Viewing will be Friday, November 17, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a rosary recital at 7:00 p.m. A funeral Mass will be Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 2:00 at St. Therese Catholic Church; 2304 Lower Huntington Road; Fort Wayne, IN. Military Honors will be presented after the funeral at the Church.

Preferred memorials for Richard are to Saint Therese Catholic Church.

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