A Celebration of Life Service for Andrew “Andy” Fruehling, age 97 of rural Jeffers, was held on Wednesday, May 31st at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers, with Pastor Harvey Pedersen officiating. Burial followed in the Jeffers City Cemetery in Jeffers.
Andrew Edward Fruehling was born on November 6, 1925, in Morgan, Minnesota, to the late Edward and Ella (Luedtke) Fruehling. He grew up in the Morgan and Sanborn areas and graduated from Sanborn High School.
On September 6, 1947, Andrew was united in marriage to Dolores Elsing and they made their home on a farm near Delft. In the fall of 1962, they moved to a farm near Jeffers to raise their family.
Andy was a farmer at heart and loved everything about the soil. It was the only work he ever knew and was still working the soil at the age of 80. He had a photographic memory and could tell you many stories about the farm and all his farming experiences from years past. A sense of direction and time that he could tell you by putting an object on the tractor fender and the position of the sun, which was always helpful, so he knew when to take a break from picking rocks and weeds. Andy could work all day with a cheese sandwich, can of Pepsi, a good sugar cookie and a Salted Nut Roll for midday break. He only drove John Deere tractors and Ford pickups and knew when to call it a day and go fishing.
Andy also loved his family. He was so proud of his families’ accomplishments and could be caught saying “how busted at the seams’ he was of each of them. He loved sharing his German heritage with us all and teaching German words and experiences he had. The love of his life, who he called “Ma”, was his side kick, whom he worked with side by side every day for 73 years of marriage. His devotion to his wife, family and faith was apparent because Andy knew what God had blessed him with.
Andy was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers. In his spare time, he loved to read, work in the garden and drive school bus for over 20 years.
Andy recently became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society-Sogge Memorial in Windom where he passed away on Friday morning, May 26, 2023, at the age of 97 years.
Andrew is survived by his one son, Rodney (Judy) Fruehling of Jeffers; son-in-law, Phil Davis of New Ulm; five grandchildren, Chris (Becky) Davis, Jen Davis, Melissa (Randy) Kaisner, Michelle (Herb) Scott, Ashley (JJ) Noel; four great-grandchildren, Tyler and Raenah Kaisner, Megan and Ian Scott; one niece and two nephews.
Andrew is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dolores, who passed away in 2020; one daughter, Carol Davis; one grandson, Scott Davis; and one sister, Minnie Elsing.
