Christian "Chris" Frey

Christian Adam Frey, Jr., was born on May 13th, 1929, at the farm home north of Abilene, Kansas in the Buckeye Community. He was the fifth child of the Reverend Christian and Ella (Bert) Frey. He had an older brother, Elbert, and three older sisters, Eilene, Ruth, and Thata.

Chris grew up with a love for animals. He often rode his pony to the Chronister School or walked to school with his sisters and neighbors. He attended Chapman High School his freshman and sophomore years and then went to a church high school and college, Upland Academy, at Upland, California, for his junior and senior years. Chris attended college there for two years, graduating in 1950. At Upland, he began dating Bonnie Raser from Dallas Center, Iowa, whom he had met at Youth Camp in Kansas.

Chris and Bonnie were married on August 23,1950, at Dallas Center, Iowa in a double wedding with Bonnie's sister, Esther, who married Earl Engle, a cousin to Chris.

Chris and Bonnie made their home on a farm north of Abilene where Chris was a farmer and a farrow to finish hog producer. Chris showed special ingenuity and resourcefulness in solving problems and designed a productive hog operation. The couple had five daughters, Shelley, Carol, Glenace, Laurie and Ella. As a father, Chris was proud of his five daughters and encouraged each of them to get a college education, providing a way to make this financially possible. He was supportive in their career and family pursuits and was a steady presence in their lives and the lives of his grandchildren.

After Chris's parents passed, Chris and Bonnie moved a mile north to live on the home farm where Chris was born and raised. The home farm became a special gathering place for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Special care was taken to preserve the "home place" while making the old farmhouse into a spacious and updated residence. Over the years, numerous friends and extended family members enjoyed Chris and Bonnie's hospitality and spending time on the home farm where so many special memories had been made.

Chris was a lifelong member of the Zion Brethren in Christ Church, located north of Abilene, Kansas. He served the church in many different capacities including as youth advisor, Sunday School teacher, trustee, deacon, and treasurer. For thirty years he served in the position of church treasurer. Chris especially enjoyed accounting and working with numbers.

Chris and Bonnie loved to travel. When their children were younger, they made summer trips to visit family in other states, including Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, and New York. They also attended church conferences in far off states. After their children were grown, the couple enjoyed a tour of Europe together with Esther and Earl. They also made several trips to Mexico to be with Bonnie's sister, Lois, who had a ministry there. They made far away trips to visit Bonnie's brother John and his family in Australia and cousins in Alaska. Finding meaning in close family ties, Chris and Bonnie regularly visited their daughters and their families in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas.

Chris is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie, of seventy-five years and his five daughters and their spouses, Shelley and Steve Crider of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Carol and Dale Landis, of rural Abilene, Kansas, Glenace and Ken Stanley of Aztec, New Mexico, Laurie and Noah Kaufman of New York City, and Ella and John McLaughlin of Powderly, Texas. Chris is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. One grandson, Laird Landis, preceded him in death.

Chris will be remembered for his level headedness and patience in the face of difficulties, his ability to solve problems, his mechanical ingenuity, his subtle sense of humor, his commitment to the church and community, and his abiding love for his beloved wife Bonnie.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 1st, at 3:00 PM, at the Zion Brethren in Christ Church, located north of Abilene, at the corner of Highways 15 and 18. Viewing and visitation with the family will begin before the service, at 2:00 PM. Interment will be at the Livingston/Union Cemetery following the service.

The family suggests memorials to the Zion Brethren in Christ Church, the Mennonite Central Committee, or the Salina Rescue Mission. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW Third Street, Abilene, Kansas 67410. Live Stream will be available on the church's website at www.zionbic.org