Lonnie W. Freber

Lonnie W. Freber, 76, of Fox Lake passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 4, 2019 at the Beaver Dam Community Hospital.

Lonnie was born the son of Richard W. and Rosanna (Cunningham) Freber on April 12, 1942 in Beaver Dam. He was a graduate of Beaver Dam High School. He was previously married to Kathleen (Bilke) Freber. Lonnie was a man of many talents. He worked side by side with his father in the family floor and tiling business, Freber’s Floor Service. Soon his love of motorsports led him to Spangler’s Honda Hut where he was store manager and mechanic. He eventually opened his own business Freber’s Cycle Center in Beaver Dam where he sold and repaired motorcycles and snowmobiles. After the death of his father, he became owner and operator of his family’s business, Freber’s Fine Jewelry in Beaver Dam where he has been jeweler for the last 45 years.

Lonnie was an avid Packers fan and was able to attend the Ice Bowl. He enjoyed NASCAR and was one time a member of the ASA series Olson Racing pit crew. Lonnie enjoyed snowmobiling with his family and was a member of the Snow Birds Snowmobile Club. Lonnie’s true passion was motorcycles and racing. He enjoyed flat track and scrambles motorcycle racing in Atwater, WI and was one of the founding members of the Beaver Dam Cycle Club. He brought speed boat racing to Beaver Dam during Beaver Fest. He enjoyed collecting and rebuilding motorcycles as well as attending the Sturges motorcycle rally.

Lonnie is survived by his special friend of 12 years and traveling partner, Maribeth Zanon of Beaver Dam; three children: Brenda (Mark) Tratar of Beaver Dam, Brian (Stacy) Freber of Beaver Dam, and Michelle (Ken) Strehl of Waukesha; his siblings: Lois (Bob) Mayberry and Scott Freber both of Beaver Dam; his grandchildren: Patrick (Hannah Lockwood) Tratar, Stevie Tratar, Malory Strehl, Anna Freber, Alana Strehl and Brandon Freber; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial gathering will be held from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Friday, March 8, 2019.