| Graduation Year | Class of 1971 |
| Date of Birth | Sep 01, 1953 |
| Date of Passing | Aug 04, 2024 |
| About | (no additional information) |
| Events | Wayne Gilbert Freitag passed away on August 4th, 2024. Born on September 1, 1953, in Watertown, Wayne was the beloved son of Laverne “Doc” Freitag and Ella Mae (George) Freitag. Wayne graduated from Watertown High School in 1971 and spent the first half of his life living in Watertown. He married Kathy A. Behm on November 4, 1972 at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Together, they raised two children: Chantel (Jamie Gilkay) Else of Delafield and Lucas (Amanda) Freitag of Watertown. Wayne was a proud grandfather to three cherished grandchildren: Noelle Else, Cody Else, and Stellah Freitag. In October 1983, Wayne married Janice M. Wendorf. During their marriage, Wayne retired from Spuncast in 1999 after nearly 20 years with the company. Together, they moved up north to live near his parents, which fulfilled a lifelong dream of Wayne’s. Wayne is also survived by his sisters, Ann (Timothy) Timm and Mary (Michael) Trapp, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Christine Freitag in infancy, and his brother, Andy Freitag. Wayne cherished time with his family and friends. He loved animals and grew up with pet raccoons. He would rescue and care for animals that came his way. Among his many pets were his dog, Cuddles, and later, his beloved cats Mac and Lucky. Wayne often found joy in watching the hummingbirds flying around the many feeders at his home. Throughout his life, Wayne loved riding his various Harley Davidsons, often taking them on cross country trips, and especially enjoyed going to the Rocky Mountains. Wayne continued the tradition of taking his family on deer runs and liked to play the lottery. Following in his parent’s footsteps, Wayne had a passion for gardening, cooking, and baking, often preparing meals and desserts for gatherings, whether large or small, with his loved ones. During his retirement, Wayne constructed a shooting range in his backyard and took great pride in teaching his grandchildren how to handle firearms safely. A funeral service to honor Wayne's life will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 7:00 PM, with visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Hafemeister Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Watertown is serving the family. Online condolences may be left at www.HafemeisterFH.com. Please have a bowl of your favorite ice cream before bed tonight in honor of Wayne, who lovingly passed this tradition of his favorite bedtime snack along to his family! |
