Eugene August Freiberger

Eugene August Freiberger, age 94 years, passed to his rest on November 1, 2023. Gene, or Tater as he was known to his family, was born in Floyds Knobs, Indiana on April 1, 1929, to Agnes (Renn) Freiberger and George Edward Freiberger of Floyds Knobs. Eugene was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years Doris Jean (Pearl) Freiberger.

Eugene was the sixth of nine children of George and Agnes and was the last surviving member of the immediate family. Gene’s siblings were Willis (Bill), Geneva (Genny), Cletus (Bud), Vicent (Connie), Wilfred (Parkie), Evans (Hoofer), Melvin (Furpole) and Omer.

Eugene grew up in Floyds Knobs on the family farm, participating in all the activities of the country home of the time. His father was a blacksmith, as was his grandfather Jack Freiberger before him. Agnes ran a truck farm raising among other things many gallons of strawberries to help support the family. With that many boys to look after, she was a stern but loving presence. The boys and Genny helped with the berries. The picking sessions usually devolved into a strawberry fight, resulting in stains on all.

Eugene early developed a love for baseball. As a child, he would watch the games held on the family farm with his father, relatives, and neighbors. As he and his brothers grew, they played as well. Gene continued playing at the high school level and afterwards with farm teams in the area. He spent hours throwing a ball at the side of the chicken coop when he couldn’t convince one of his many brothers to play catch. He developed a efficient fastball and slider and dreamed of playing professionally. He played on a professional farm team for a season, but an injury shortened his career. Life has a way of interfering with our dreams. When he met the love of his life, a pretty little gal named Doris Jean Pearl, his priorities changed.

Doris and Gene married in 1951 and over the course of time had five children of their own. Philip (Tina Brasil) came along first in 1952, with Mark (Dana Perry), Janice, Brent and Lane (Linda Wells) following at regular intervals. They made their early home on Grant Line Road in New Albany, which was built for them by Doris’ brothers Howard and Ken Pearl. They resided there until 1974 when they moved to their final home on Kamer-Miller Road. They designed and had built it with the help of others including Doris’ father John Pearl.

Gene served in the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana National Guard as a company radioman. He served during the time of the Korean conflict but did not see active duty in that war. The 38th served with distinction during WWII but was not called up for Korea. He mustered out as a Staff Sergeant. All three of his older brothers served in the Second World War, and the rest of them all served in various branches in later years.

Gene’s interest in sports never left him, and he could often be found getting a nap while watching a game on TV. He also coached both Phil and Mark through their Little League and Babe Ruth League years. He helped found and coach a local Judo team with his brother Mel and passed this sport on to his older boys. He always expected the best of his boys and passed on that competitive spirit to the whole family.

Gene was also an avid horseshoe pitcher, honing that skill at family gatherings. He became proficient enough to participate twice at the senior level in the World Series of Horseshoe pitching held in Pleasanton, California.

His competitive nature also showed up in his love of card playing of all types, including Pinoccle, Euchre, Canasta, and poker. He also enjoyed playing the simpler card and board games with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed poker gatherings at the VFW where he was a long-time member, and Euchre games on the Knobs. Gene also pursued with passion an interest in Golf and Bowling. He and Doris also participated for many years in the Senior Games sponsored by Life Span of Southern Indiana, where he accumulated quite a collection of awards. They both greatly enjoyed the games, and appreciated the work that the organizers did to make this possible for Southern Indiana seniors.

Gene worked for Western Electric, a subsidiary of Bell Telephone, for many years. His work for them as an Electrician took him to many places, including Greenland, Iceland and England during the construction of the Defense Early Warning System in the 1960’s. He also worked in New York City numerous times, often at the ATT building on the World Trade Center site. His travels took him to Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, and various sites in Kentucky. After his retirement from Western, he continued as a contract worker for Northern Telcom in Maryland for a few years until he finally decided to wrap it up. Doris and the family sometimes traveled with him on his longer assignments, spending summer breaks and seeing part of this vast country we are privileged to inhabit.

Doris and Gene were always a team and loved to travel and visit new places. Doris took full advantage of his work travels to see the land and meet new friends. She never met anyone that she didn’t soon make a friend. Gene, while more reserved, enjoyed this part of their life as well. As their children grew up and two moved West, their horizons were broadened further. They made annual trips to California and Washington State to visit Phil and Mark’s growing families. They both loved their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took every opportunity to spend time with them.

Gene was a lifetime Democrat who was often involved in get out the vote efforts, and assisted with polling places when he could. While never holding office himself, he was a proud supporter of his father, brothers and nephews who held various positions at the county level. He believed strongly in our representative government and tolerated Doris’ mostly Republican leaning side of the family, who reciprocated with love and respect. Some things are better not to discuss at the dinner table!

Gene was an avid gardener. Of course, he grew up with that, but didn’t really start gardening himself until he purchased an adjacent lot to his Grant Line Road property. What started out as a small plot the first year quickly grew to a very large operation involving corn, beans, vegetables and of course strawberries. During the early years he had to fit this between his working life and travels. But once he retired, the gloves came off, and he made full use of his Kamer-Miller Road property. Doris of course was always there to preserve the surplus of whatever was grown. She had the motto, “If he will grow and pick it, I will can it.” She never was one to work in the garden herself.

Gene was especially given to raising strawberries, and usually had several very long rows of these which he meticulously maintained. Bumper crops were frequent, and he sold and gave away gallons of prime berries. He hated to see anything he grew go to waste, and there was always plenty to eat fresh, to preserve or to swap or give away. He continued to do so up until just the last few years when all those seasons of bending over came to roost. But how we all appreciated his efforts.

Gene and Doris were longtime members of the New Albany Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Both were active in volunteering for various church activities. Doris for many years coordinated funeral luncheons, with Gene doing the setup and take down. Gene also sang in the Resurrection Choir. His church was important to him, and it was rare indeed that he was not found at services wherever he might be.

Gene lost Doris in 2018, and it is true that some of the joy of life went with her. How do you get along without your better half? But he soldiered on and continued his gardening and visiting family. He was in his Orchard the day of his passing gathering apples from a bumper crop for a planned Apple Butter making event. He had been preparing for this traditional event for some time and had peeled and frozen quite a few quarts of apples. It couldn’t have been more appropriate for him to pass while doing a service for others.

Gene’s life had many facets, and he would be first to tell you that he had his faults. But his love for his family, his devotion to his church, his love of country and our way of life were an inspiration to his children and his friends and family. For this we his children are grateful. Gene is survived by his five children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at the Kraft Funeral Home, 708 E Spring Street, New Albany on November 8, 2023, from 4 pm to 8 pm. His funeral mass is scheduled for 11 am on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 1752 Scheller Lane, New Albany. Burial will follow at Saint Mary’s of the Knobs Cemetery, 5719 Saint Mary’s Road, Floyds Knobs, Indiana. There will be a funeral luncheon in the OLPH Wagner Hall under the church following the interment.

The family requests expressions of sympathy to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

Online condolences may be made to www.kraftfuneralservice.net