William Clark Freitag

The memorial service for William Freitag, 69, of Aberdeen, SD, will be 10:00am, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, with Chaplain Tina Opdahl officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Tuesday, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street.
William Clark Freitag, age 69, passed away peacefully on December 7, at 11:40 a.m., at Mother Joseph Nursing Home in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with his beloved wife Nancy holding his hand and his son by his side.
William was born on April 19, 1956, in Fairmont, Minnesota, to William and Mabel Freitag. His early years were shaped by education, family, and music. While his father attended Northern State University, the family lived in Aberdeen, South Dakota, before moving to Hitchcock, and later Selby, South Dakota, where William attended elementary school.
He graduated from Chandler–Lake Wilson High School in Minnesota in 1974, earning honors and leaving his mark in academics, athletics, and the arts. He was a member of the All-Conference Football Team, and received the John Philip Sousa Award for excellence in music. He was also deeply involved in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment that reflected his discipline, leadership, and character.
William earned his Music Education degree from Northern State University, dedicating his life to teaching and inspiring others. He went on to teach in Carson, North Dakota, as well as Chamberlain, Custer, and De Smet, South Dakota, where he influenced generations of middle school and high school students. For nearly a decade, he pushed his students to pursue their passion, believe in themselves, and strive for excellence-lessons that extended far beyond the music room.
His love of music never faded. William earned his Master's Degree in Music Performance from the University of South Dakota, specializing in trumpet performance, and continued to perform and appreciate music throughout his life.
In 2015, William suffered a life-altering stroke. Though it changed the course of his later years, those who loved him knew that the core of who he was-his intelligence, his wit, his humor, and his love for family and being "Granddad" remained. His journey after that point was marked by strength, perseverance, and unwavering support from those closest to him.
Above all else, William was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and loved his family more than anything else. He would do anything for anyone and did so without hesitation. He was endlessly hardworking, deeply intelligent, and known for his dark, witty humor that could cut through any situation. He loved to laugh, collect action figures, perform music, and strike up a conversation with just about anyone. He always seemed to have advice ready-whether you asked for it or not.
To his son, William was not only the best father, but also a teacher and best friend-steady, supportive, and always present. He was a loving brother to his sisters and a man whose friendships spanned all walks of life.
William is survived by his wife, Nancy Freitag; his son, William R. Freitag (JoAnne); his cherished grandchildren, Elena and Charlotte; his mother, Mabel Freitag; and his sisters, Tami Freitag Watson and Lori Linn Freitag Wilhelm.
He was preceded in death by his father, William O. Freitag.
William's legacy lives on through the music he taught, the lives he shaped, the laughter he shared, and the love he gave so freely. He will be deeply missed and always remembered.