CHARLES EDWARD FRIEDERICH

Charles Edward “Charlie” Friederich, 87, of Brodhead, died May 28, 2022, at SSM Health Monroe Hospice Home.

His parents named him Charles Edward Friederich, but friends and loved ones called him Charlie. He was born in the small town of Western, Neb., on Friday. July 13, 1934.

His father, Fred Friederich, was a Methodist pastor, and his mother Lydia Roth Friederich, was a housewife and registered nurse, who at his birth supervised his delivery ahead of the doctor’s arrival.

He graduated from high school in Seward, Neb., in 1952 and from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln in 1956. He received a full-tuition scholarship to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill, where he received his master’s degree in journalism in 1959.

He then worked as a reporter for the Binghamton Press in upstate New York. Two years later, in January 1961, he moved to Wisconsin and was a staff member of The Milwaukee Journal for almost 30 years.

His first seven years at The Journal were spent in Milwaukee, where he did most everything from writing obituaries to composing editorials.
While in Milwaukee, in the young singles group at Kenwood United Methodist Church, he met the lady who became the love of his life, Mary Pearl Koertge.

They taught Sunday School together and dated. He proposed to her on his birthday in 1963. She accepted, and they were married in Kenwood Church on Nov. 9, 1963.
In 1968, they moved to Madison, where he covered the State Capitol for The Journal.
The Journal allowed retirement at age 55, and he did so in 1990. His retirement freed his wife to pursue a longtime dream to become a minister, and in 1991 she was appointed pastor of three small United Methodist Churches in southwest Wisconsin: Argyle, Blanchardville, and Lamont.
When she retired from the full-time ministry in 1997, they moved to Brodhead.

They enjoyed church and daily walks or bike rides of a mile or two in Brodhead, also visits to the YMCA of the Rockies near Estes Park, Colo.; to Chautauqua and to Susanna Wesley House at Pine Lake United Methodist Camp near Westfield.

Survivors in addition to Mary include their children: Matthew (spouse, Diana) of Berwyn, Ill.; Elizabeth (Rick) Connolly of Montfort, Wis.; and David (Christine) of Round Lake, Ill.

Also surviving are 12 grandchildren: Rebecca, Charlie, Jacob, Ben, Emily, Paul, Nick, Hope, Bret, Josh, David William and Patrick; and one great-grandchild, Mateo.

Three sisters preceded him in death: Rose Jenson of Sioux Falls, SD; Doris Klutts of Gering, Neb., and Joann Lindberg of Peoria, Ill.

A private service for the family was held on Friday, June 3. A service celebrating his life will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Pine Lake United Methodist Church Camp in Westfield.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given in his name to the Salvation Army in Madison.
DL Newcomer Funeral Home, Brodhead, assisted the family. To leave an online condolence for the Friederich Family, visit: www.dlnewcomerfuneralhome.com.