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Burtis Leon Frey
May 27, 1914 - February 13, 2009
Des Moines and formerly of Oskaloosa
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| Visitation: Will begin 10:00 A.M., Friday morning, February 20, 2008 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel, the family will be at the funeral chapel from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to greet visitors. |
Interment: Forest Cemetery
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Burt passed away Friday morning at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines at the age of 94 years, 8 months and 17 days. A private funeral service will be held on Saturday.
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Burtis Leon Frey, son of Allen Witmer and Lola Baker Frey was born on May 27, 1914 in Mingo, IA. He was a 1935 graduate of Mingo High School and from 1935 to 1939 he attended Simpson College in Indianola, IA. There, he received a B.A. Degree with a major in Physics and minors in Math and Physical Education and was one of three Representative Men in Industrial Arts. He participated in football, basketball and track and was a four year letterman in basketball and track.. He served as captain of the basketball team, was on the Second All Conference Team, he held the college record in pole vault, and was one of ten in “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities”. Burt pursued his masters degree during summer vacations, first at the University of Illinois and then at the University of Iowa, where it was awarded in 1955. His first teaching and coaching position was at Sidney High School; there, he taught American Government and Physical Education and coached football, basketball and boy’s track. He married Edith Wilson on June 29, 1941 at her home in Oregon, MO. They started their life together in Audubon, where they lived for a year and Burt coached. Burt then took a position at Oskaloosa High School, where he taught geometry, mechanical drawing and industrial arts; he coached J.V. football & basketball and varsity track. After one year in Oskaloosa, he entered the U. S. Navy and was stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle, WA; he served for 2 ½ years in the Welfare and Recreation Department; he was discharged with the rank of Chief Specialist A in Athletics. In 1946, Burt returned to Oskaloosa, where he taught 5th through 8th grade physical education, at all six elementary schools. From 1947 to 1952 he coached football, basketball and track. In 1952 he became the Athletic Director and was head football coach. In 1955, he dropped coaching at the varsity level and became the Physical Education Director; at this time he was able to rejuvenate the tennis program, develop a gymnastics program and start the boys and girls high school bowling program. Burt directed the Oskaloosa Relays for 24 years, and continued to coach track & field, primarily the pit events; he was also a football, basketball and track official throughout his years at Oskaloosa High School. He ended his school commitments with the position of Athletic Director in 1977, the first in the new Oskaloosa gymnasium. Over his many years of teaching, he contacted over 10,000 students and coached over 1,000 individuals in various sports.
During his school tenure, he served as president of the Oskaloosa Education Association. He was a lifetime member of the NEA, ISEA, AAHPER, IAHPER and the Iowa Assoc. of Athletic Directors and coveted the honor of induction into the Sports Hall of Fame at Simpson College. He was a director of Iowa State Senior Bowling Association; locally, he was awarded a place in the Bowling Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Y’s-men Club, Kiwanis Club and served as president of both organizations. Burt also coached both of his son’s Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball Teams. After retirement, Burt’s interests included golf, bowling, woodworking, and landscaping projects with his sons.
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Burt’s family includes his wife Edith of Des Moines, IA, two sons and a daughter-in-law: Douglas Allan Frey of Des Moines, IA and Warren Bruce and Kelly Frey of Clinton, CT. He was blessed with one grandson, Nicolas and 13 nephews and nieces.
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He was preceded in death by his parents, his six brothers: Clarence, Morris, Roy, Harry, Harold and Paul Frey and by his three sisters: Florence Frey, Bertha Tufts and Grace Baker.
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Memorials may be made to an Endowed Scholarship at Simpson College in Indianola, IA (to an educational scholarship fund for a student who is an athlete in need of help to further his or her education in college).
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