Last week, my Uncle George Freund passed away in Idaho Falls. He touched my life and the lives of many people with his love, his wisdom and his humor. Just five days before he died, I had a wonderful visit with Uncle George at Good Samaritan in Idaho Falls. What a blessing.

I am reprinting the obituary that appeared in the Post Register on Thursday because my cousins put a lot of thought into it, as they did the memorial service on Saturday:


After living a life that influenced those around him, George Adolf Freund, of Idaho Falls, died at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center on July 9, 2006. He was 78.

George was born on August 6, 1927, in Vienna, Austria, to Hans Fritz Freund and Trude Goldmann Freund. His mother died in 1927 and after the death of his father in 1936, George's maternal grandparents, Alois and Marie Goldmann, raised him. Recognizing the danger as Hitler marched across Europe, the Goldmanns sent George to live in America with his Uncle Oswald, Aunt Anne, and Cousin Wally. George traveled by boat to England and by boat to America, landing in New York on December 1, 1938.

Within days of his arrival, George was enrolled in Woodmere Academy and, in 1945, graduated as the co-valedictorian of his class. George went on to MIT where he earned bachelor's (1949) and master's (1950) degrees in chemical engineering.

In 1950, George started a career which demonstrated his commitment to the field of nuclear energy. His first job was with Argonne National Laboratory (East) just outside Chicago. George worked first on nuclear reactors for submarines and then on research and development for reactors generating electricity. He had a long career working in nuclear energy and retired from SAIC in 1995.

In 1953, George met Mary J. Hansen, and they were married on November 27, 1954. Together, George and Mary raised six children and taught them, by example, the importance of being involved in community, coaching young people, continuing education and having a sense of humor.

Throughout his life, George was active in many community organizations including Rotary, YMCA and the American Nuclear Society. In retirement, George helped organize Coalition 21, a pro-science, non-profit organization. George also enjoyed politics and writing, often penning letters-to-the-editor on a variety of issues.

George is survived by his wife of nearly 52 years, Mary Hansen Freund of Idaho Falls; as well as his six children, Ruth (Marv) Pierce of Twin Falls, John (Ree) Freund of Albuquerque, N.M., Anne (Terry) Ross of Ames, Iowa, Jane Freund of Boise, Tom (Kaily) Freund of Medford, Ore., and Paul Freund of Idaho Falls; and six grandchildren, Scott, Jake, Logan, Lynze, Samuel and Erica. George also leaves behind many friends and his extended family.

George was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alois and Marie Goldmann; birth parents, Hans and Trude Freund; adoptive parents, Oswald and Anne Freund, and adopted brother, Wally Friend.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Idaho Youth Ranch (PO Box 8538; Boise, ID 83707) or the Alois and Marie Goldmann Scholarship Fund at the Idaho Community Foundation, P.O. Box 8143, Boise, ID 83707, would be most appreciated.

I will miss the chance to share with Uncle George the adventure of this campaign. I valued his perspective and advice. He truly understood and promoted grassroots, people-based election campaigns. was saddened by the corrupting influence of big money in recent elections and cheered me on when we launched this campaign as we did. In fact, Uncle George was one of the first to put a sticker on his car that said, “Votes Should Count More Than Money.”

Uncle George played a critical role in my father's campaigns for Congress in the '60s and '70s. His daughter, Jane Freund, inherited his love and commitment for people-based campaigns and I am so blessed to have her involved in my campaign this year.