Obituary
It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Mathew Frehlich on the morning of February 11, 2021. Matt had the comfort of his children at his side as he gently passed on to his last and most glorious place. He will join all those who he loved that have gone before him, especially his beloved wife Kay and his son Rod.
It is with equal joy that we celebrate his life and his love that nurtured not only our family across three generations, but also his wider family and friends.
Mathew was born June 28, 1929 in Scott, Saskatchewan, the son of George and Katherine Frehlich; brother to Joseph, Ray (and Doris), Margaret (and Don Bard), Wilfred, Eugene (and Irene), and Jenny (and Ray Tymko). Raised on the farm, and after several early adventures as a young man, he returned to the Wilkie area to marry Katherine Fenrich on November 13, 1950. Together they spent 61 years in love and partnership raising a family of eight: Richard, Rod (and Ilana Baror), Glen (and Colette), Don, Charmaine (and Bob Pepin), Blaine (and Lisa), Michelle (and Real Phaneuf), Dennis (and Lisa). Matt and Kay built a successful farming business and shared in their community’s challenges and celebrations.
Matt was one of those wonderful people who nurtured his friendships and always reached out for new ones. He expressed his sociability through playing softball, umpiring for local teams, coaching minor baseball and hockey, curling, cheering for the Wilkie Outlaws, volunteering with the Kinsmen and local school boards, managing the Bowladrome, hosting loud and lively Kaiser card parties, following the summer polka dance circuit, escaping winter with fellow Snowbirds, to meeting his buddies at coffee time to play the “numbers” game. He loved the kinship of family and friends and was always asking questions of new acquaintances to find out where they came from and how they fit into his wide circle.
Matt and Kay were soul mates, each bringing the best of themselves to create a life and family that we were all blessed to be a part of. Those early years of hard work and sacrifice were shared together with love, faith and a quiet joy. From the start they showed us through example that hard work, co-operation and planning, when balanced with lots of play, would lead us to build our own wonderful lives. They encouraged us in our studies and careers, counseled us through infinite phone calls, embraced our chosen spouses as part of our family and cherished the arrival of their nine Grandchildren and four Great-grandchildren.
Dad begins his new life in heaven with God. We will miss him dearly here on earth, but he will be with us in every memory we share, every tear we shed, and in every moment, we love one another. In honor of Dad’s memory, you may wish to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca/donate.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mathew Frehlich June 28 1929 February 11 2021 (age 91)..
Death notice for the town of: Calgary, Province: Alberta