MCHENRY—Deacon Walter Freund, 91, a life-long resident of McHenry, died at his son’s and daughter’s-in-law home in Emory, Texas, on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. 

 

He was born on Jan. 15, 1929, in McHenry, to Walter John and Olive Gertrude Freund. He married Catherine Marie Wagner in Volo in August 1949. 

 

His lifetime work was home construction and remodeling. 

 

Deacon Freund built Christ the King Church in Wonder Lake in 1958, remodeled St. Mary Church in McHenry in 1969, and with the help of his daughter, Jayne, remodeled St. Patrick Church in McHenry in 1989.

 

He was ordained a deacon in 1978 by Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill, and served at both St. Mary  and St. Patrick parishes in McHenry, St. Patrick in Hartland and St. Peter in Spring Grove. His last assignment was Christ the King in Wonder Lake, the parish that he built 62 years before. 

 

He was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus and a life member of the Forresters. 

 

He is survived by his son, Mark (Cynthia) Freund, Emory, Texas; daughter, Mary Jayne (John) Bennett, Dillingham, Alaska; grandchildren Adam (Kimberly) Freund, Noah (Marlena) Freund, Dillon Bennett, and Max Bennett; great-grandchildren Andrew, Angelynn, Isabella, Charlie, Sophia, Matthew, Jacob and Gabriel.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Catherine in 2014; daughter Kimberly Freund in 1995; siblings Madeleine Bolger, Claire Moran, Roger Freund, Eugene Freund, Gerald Freund.

 

Due to the coronavirus quarantine, the funeral Mass and burial will be delayed until August.