Richard William Friel

76, passed away July 7, 2013. He was born May 19, 1937, to William H. Friel and Mildred Beggerow Friel in Amboy, IL. After his mother's death, he was raised by his father and step-mother, Helen Wolber Friel, in Sterling, IL. Mr. Friel graduated from Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling, IL. In 1955. He began his career in the management training program at Northwestern Steel & Wire Company in Sterling. Eventually he managed several of their mills in Sterling before transferred to Houston, TX, to be in charge of operations of their Houston plant. After retiring, Richard was employed as senior vice-president of Mobil Steel International, Inc. in Houston. He was a member of ABC. In addition to his strong work ethic, Richard had a zest for life. Obtaining a pilot's license as well as an instrument rating, he flew small planes with aviation friends. He was an avid boater who enjoyed many years of boating on the Rock River and Lake Cochrane and later sailing on Galveston Bay with his family and friends. He loved to entertain guests and was known for his cooking. On June 29, 1968, Richard married Dianne Gunderson in Clear Lake, SD. He is survived by his wife, Dianne; their daughter, Erin Friel Elmore and her husband, Ben, of Houston; TX; his daughter, Terri Bridenbaugh, and his son, Gregory Friel, both of DeBary, FL; also survive. He was the loving Grampy to Elizabeth Addison Elmore, Jake Richard Tonahill Elmore, Ryan Bridenbaugh, Brent Friel and Alex Friel. Other survivors include: his step-mother, Helen Friel, of Sterling, IL; his sisters, Helen Farley and her husband, John, of DeKalb, IL, Karen Stettler and her husband, James, of Germantown, TN, and Karma Vince and her husband, Michael, of Sylvania, OH; his brother-in-law, Clark Gunderson MD and his wife, Robbie, of Lake Charles, LA. His nieces and nephews include James Farley, Timothy Farley, Reagan Mcdonough, Sarah Millington, JB Stettler, Abby Wilson, Kari Storm, Michelle Vince, Ashley Gunderson, Camille Gunderson MD and Nadia Gunderson. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Kevin Friel, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harvey and Eugenie Gunderson. Memorial services were held July 9, 2013, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Houston, TX. The family asks that memorial gifts in honor of Richard William Friel be given to support the search for a cure for brain cancer to The Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research, 3703 Elmora Street, Houston, TX, 77005. www.thebroachfoundation.org