Bradley Ray "Brad" Friese (70) of Strasburg

Bradley Ray “Brad” Friese, 70, of Strasburg, IL, passed away at 2:10 p.m. Sunday, July 30, 2023 in Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2023 in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Strasburg, IL with Rev. Kene Whybrew officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, August 4th, in the church. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Strasburg, IL. Memorials may be given to Strasburg Fire Department or Trinity Lutheran School in Stewardson. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Strasburg, IL.

Brad was born on March 1, 1953 in Shelbyville, IL, the son of Donald Ray and Lela Ellen (Mulvaney) Friese. He attended Trinity Lutheran School and graduated from Stewardson-Strasburg High School in the Class of 1971. Brad then attended Lake Land College, where he played baseball. Brad married Arlene Marie Rincker on August 11, 1973. He began working as a carpenter for Steve Baumgarten Construction in Stewardson. He then worked for Dale Young and Richard Stremming in their cabinet shops. Brad was a skilled finish carpenter and later worked for Don Wetherell Construction in Stewardson and retired in 2011 from Heritage Builders in Effingham. Brad was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Stewardson and a current member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Strasburg, IL. Brad served on the Strasburg Fire Department for over 40 years, where he was a former captain. He played fast pitch softball for over 30 years, winning the 1989 State Championship with the Tate Farm Equipment Team. Brad was inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame in 2013. Brad was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Stan Musial. He enjoyed collecting Cardinals memorabilia and Lionel O-Gauge Trains. Brad was a man of many words and was extremely proud that all of his children and grandchildren were ballplayers and Christians.

Brad is survived by his wife, Arlene; parents, Donald and Lela Friese of Stewardson, IL; daughter, Dawn Meinhart (Steve) of Island Grove, IL; sons, Brock Friese and wife Krystal of Mode, IL, and Kurt Friese and wife Bridgitte of Strasburg, IL; sister, Ellen Friese of Stewardson, IL; and nine grandchildren, Nathan, Josie and Ben Meinhart, Noah, Brielle and Finn Friese and Alaira, Mya, and Kalia Friese.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Merl and Marilouise Rincker.

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