Hermann Frei

It is with great sadness that the family of Hermann Frei announces his passing in the evening of Friday, August 9th at Carle Health Methodist Hospital. Hermann was 84 years old and residing at the Bickford Place, Senior Assisted Living in Peoria, Illinois. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Church in Bartonville for several decades, and most recently attended St. Vincent in Peoria, Illinois.

Hermann was born in Switzerland to Hans J. Frei and Marie Burgi-Frei, where he grew up as one of eight children during WWII in the town of Islikon, in the Canton of Tourgau. After secondary school he went to trade school to learn patternmaking. He graduated 4th in his patternmaking class. After graduation he served for two years in the Swiss Army and for one year in the Swiss Mountain Police stationed in Swiss Alps. He worked as a patternmaker in Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and finally in America with the Caterpillar Tractor Company for thirty four years.

He traveled to many wonderful and interesting places all over the world, meeting great people, some of whom became life-long friends. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, landscaping, and gardening on his six acres in Peoria County. He planted trees, raised chickens, geese, and dairy goats. In Switzerland he had raised rabbits.

Hermann was very interested in Native American history and lore, enjoyed American country music, square dancing, and was active in a local bow hunter’s club. He was very passionate about shooting at archery ranges and rifle ranges. For decades he enjoyed two or three hunting trips a year, with good friends, to Western Illinois or to the Northern States.

Hermann is survived by several extended family members in Switzerland. In America, he is survived by his immediate family of two sons, two daughter in-laws, and four grandchildren. They are: Aaron J. Frei, his wife Sharon, and their child Callum; and Hans P. Frei, his wife Anita, and their three children Ethan, Adelyn, and Aiden.

A Funeral Mass will be held in Hermann’s honor at 10:30 am on Saturday, August 24th at St. Jude Catholic Church in Peoria followed by a Celebration of Life Luncheon at 11:30 am in Hettinger Hall of St. Jude. (10811 North Knoxville Ave. Peoria, IL 61615)

Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of the Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel.