Philip S. Freund

1931 - 2017

Freund, Philip S. On January 15, 2017, Col. Philip Siegfried Freund died peacefully at home in the presence of his beloved family. He was 85. Philip Freund was born to Max Joseph Freund and Therese Laucheimer in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, on June 5, 1931. Funeral service is 10:00 AM on Thursday January 19th at Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun (CEEBJ), 2020 West Brown Deer Road, River Hills, WI 53217. Interment with Military Honors following at Southeast Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 21731 Spring Street, Union Grove, WI 53182. The Freund Family will observe Shiva following the funeral. At the time of Philip's birth, the Freund family was wealthy, fortunate, and happy. However, this changed with the rise of the Nazi regime. The Freund family suffered under the Nuremberg laws targeting German Jews, such as themselves. After Philip's father was killed in 1937, Philip was a refugee to England as a passenger on the MS St Louis in 1939 with his grandmother, mother, and sister. After arriving in the U.S., Philip lived with his aunt and uncle in Hackensack, New Jersey. He attended George Washington High School and New York University. He later moved to New York City, before enlisting in the army in 1951. Philip was on active duty from 1951 to 1954, and remained in the army for 40 years. Philip specialized in Military Intelligence, a field which allowed him to serve our country in many ways as a true patriot. Philip excelled as an officer and achieved the rank of Full Colonel in 1983. Eventually settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Philip would later attend The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, where he earned his Bachelors degree and a Masters Degree at Marquette University. Philip would find his military training useful while employed as a teacher and then later a guidance counselor for the Milwaukee Public School system. Upon retirement from MPS, he worked at Whitnall Middle School while also serving as a volunteer police officer for 15 years with the Whitefish Bay Police Department. Over the last 20 years Philip and Belle Anne would be involved in Holocaust education programs throughout the country, lecturing about his experience as a youth aboard the MS St. Louis and fleeing Nazi Germany. Philip engaged in many organizations including the Masonic order, Shriners Temple, National Sojourners, Veterans of Foreign Wars Gross-Yaksh Post, Jewish War Veterans Marsack Feldman Post, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Military Order of World Wars. He and Belle Anne were volunteers for the Blood Center of Wisconsin and as a donor of 90+ pints, the VA center, The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and The Riverside Theater. Philip S. Freund is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Belle Anne Freund, as well as his supportive son and daughter, Mark J. Freund (Laura Collins-Freund) and Jacqueline Fassbender. Philip has four grandchildren, Philip A. Freund, Joseph M. Fassbender, Samuel S. Fassbender, and Daniel T. Fassbender. Philip is also survived by his many friends and colleagues, who have always been there for him and Belle Anne. Philip and Belle Anne also have two more children, Margarette L. who has children of her own and Perry M. who's son is Matthew Freund. The family of Philip Freund is grateful to have so many close friends and family members too numerous to list that were at our side throughout his brief illness. We are grateful to Home Instead and Vitas Hospice care for providing us with living assistance during our time of need. They have made Philip's final months a pain-free blessing. We are also grateful to Philip's doctors for all their help over the years. Thank you. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Disabled American Veterans, http://www.DAV.org/donate, The Shriners Hospital for Children (Tel: 314-872-7807), or CEEBJ (https://ceebj.org) would be appreciated.