Daniel E. Friebel

Daniel E. Friebel passed away at the age of 73 on October 23, 2025, at St. Paul Home in Kaukauna.

Dan is survived by his wife of 18 years, Mary Friebel (Keller), and three children, Rob Friebel (Jen), Kay Myers (Ryan), and Tami Johnson. He is also survived by his only brother, Steve Friebel (Karen), and his five grandchildren: Mikaiah, Matthew, and Morgan Friebel, and Kailyn and Charlotte Myers. Dan is also survived by brothers-in-law: Richard Keller, Joseph Keller (Penny), and Michael Keller (Gayle), and sisters-in-law: Jeanne Frazier (Mike), Patricia Stern, Jacqueline Beyer (Rod), and Sheri Beyer (Russ). Dan is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and a former spouse, Diane Schneider (Garth).

Dan was preceded in death by his parents: Ronald and Virginia (Ginny) Friebel (Sprangers), and his mother-in-law, Vilma Keller. He was also preceded in death by sisters-in-law: Lorraine “Lori” Schroepfer (Dean), and Elizabeth “Betsy” Kent (Randy), and a brother-in-law, Elmer “Sonny” Keller (Cindy).

Dan grew up mostly in the Darboy area, except for the three years spent in Florida. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Technology at UW-Stout in 1979, Dan worked as a manufacturing Engineer at Pierce for 18 years. He also worked for Lamers Dairy, and owned a vending business. Dan also designed and built a unique, one of a kind home. There were still lots to be finished after meeting Mary and Tami.

Dan was a kind and compassionate, gentle and somewhat shy man. He enjoyed Nascar and Indy races, hunting, fishing and boating, and gardening and cooking. He was an avid reader, especially of sci-fi, all sciences, cars and trucks, wildlife, health and gun magazines. He always looked forward to trips with Mary to Florida and EAA. When Dan met Mary, he was working on an experimental two-seat airplane, with plans to sell as a kit plane. After finishing the first prototype, and hiring a test pilot (yes, it FLEW!), Dan immediately started over with changes and improvements. Work on the second prototype started-in the dining room-until Mary finally put her foot down and said enough! Dan then moved it out to the shop.

A Funeral Service for Dan will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. at Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 2401 Fieldcrest Dr., Kaukauna. Visitation will begin at the funeral home at 3:00 p.m. and will continue until the time of the service. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

A special thank you to hospice and all the kind and compassionate staff, volunteers and friends at St. Paul Home in Kaukauna. And especially for telling Dan he was their favorite and that he was the Most Handsome, and sharing even the “sassy” jokes!