Gene Wesley Friebe left his life on earth to continue into his eternal reward on June 30, 2016. He was 88 years old and died peacefully in his home after a life well lived. Gene was born Sept. 29, 1927 at Skiatook, Oklahoma to Charles Oscar and Blanche Ollie (Ramsey) Friebe.
He attended school at Cowan, Mentor, and Mount Pleasant schools and graduated from Ozark High School in 1945. Two weeks after graduation, Gene joined the Navy Reserves and trained at Green Bay, Wisconsin and finished training in San Bruno, California. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Chester and traveled to the Solomon Islands and the Panama Canal.
He returned to Springfield and enrolled in SMS. He obtained his pilot license and worked for Wheeler''s Furniture Store and a local service station. He then enrolled in Draughons Business College, where he met his future bride, Jennie Lee Edwards. He began work for Patton Creamery Company in 1949, which moved him to the Rolla office.
On June 10, 1951 he and Jennie were married in Richland, MO. After a year, the couple moved back to Springfield. Patton Creamery evolved into Foremost Dairy. He was with the company for 12 years before taking a job with Hiland Dairy, where he worked in various phases of the office work, and eventually became branch accounting supervisor. He and his family moved to Republic during this time. He accepted another job as office manager in 1970 in West Plains at Ozark Asphalt Company, a company co-owned by his best friend, Bob Sargent. Gene retired in 1998, after 28 years with the company.
Gene began his relationship with the Lord at Mentor Church and continues that relationship in heaven today. He was active in his service and made many friends during his lifetime in church. He was a member at Mentor; First Baptist in Republic; Macedonia and East Avenue Baptist churches in Springfield; First, Second, and New Hope Baptist churches in West Plains; and finally, National Heights Baptist in Springfield. He became an ordained deacon of the church and was the Royal Ambassadors Leader in his church, association and 11-church district for over 17 years. He said this was one of the most rewarding parts of his Christian service.
In 1962, he joined the Masonic Solomon Lodge in Springfield and served in all offices there and did the same when in West Plains at the Mt. Zion Lodge. He also became the District Deputy Grand Lecturer for the district for several years. He and Jennie were active members in the Order of the Eastern Star in West Plains.
Gene served for 12 years on the Citizens Advisory Board with the Probation and Parole office in West Plains. One of their programs included taking youths serving probation to the state prison to tour in hopes of preventing further violations. He also served for many years on the West Vue Nursing Home Board of Directors in West Plains.
Gene was an avid golfer and spent many hours on the golf course with his best friend, Bob, and the friends in West Plains, and again with his buddies, Don David and Lowell Alexander in his recent years in Springfield.
Upon retirement, Gene and Jennie moved back to Springfield to be closer to family. Gene has been a St. Louis Cardinal fan and a fan of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all of their activities and sports. He loved and served God and his country. In the past year, he and his wife have enjoyed spending time with their new friends in their senior living community.
We were blessed to have had him in our lives as long as we did. He was a servant of God, the love of Jennie''s life, a hero to his family and a friend to all. It is no wonder his heart finally gave out as he shared so much of it with so many.
Gene is survived by Jennie, his bride of 65 years, three adult children and spouses: Larry (Kathy Fanning) Springfield; Linda (James Mahoney) Greensboro, NC; and Michelle (Eric Wahlquist) Fair Grove; five grandchildren: Brandon (Stephanie Wehmhoener) Fayette; Wesley (Julie Garrett) Fayette; Jordan (Melanie Richards) Republic; Megan Wahlquist, Columbia and Leah Wahlquist, Fair Grove; and five great-grandchildren: Kaleb and Kayleigh; Aleigh, Avery, and Gauge. He is also survived by siblings Johnie Friebe (Fran Walters); Irene Jones; and Lester Friebe (Jeanie Hart); sister-in-law Thelma (Thompson) Friebe; brother-in-law Fred Trachsel; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He is preceded in death by Charles (father); Blanche (mother); Earl (brother); Beryl Trachsel (sister); Timothy Becker (nephew); and Daniel Jones (brother-in-law).
Visitation will be 6-8p.m. Tuesday, July 5 at Klingner-Cope at Rivermonte Chapel, 4500 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield. Service will be at 2p.m. Wednesday, July 6 at National Heights Baptist Church, 3050 N. National Ave. Springfield.