Earl "Joe" Frueh, 74, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at Mercy Medical Center. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2006, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Des Moines. Visitation will be today from 12 to 4 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Care in Clive. An 8 p.m. vigil will be held at the church, with a visitation for one hour prior to the vigil.

Joe was born in Afton, Iowa, but moved to St. Mary's at the age of four, where he attended school. He moved to Des Moines 23 years ago and worked as a truck driver until his retirement three years ago. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. He liked fishing and conversation over coffee.

He will be missed by his two daughters, Lori Frueh of Des Moines; Trude (Jerry) Kyle of Mitchellville; two grandsons, Richard (Brenda) Kleywegt of Johnston and Jerry Kyle of Mitchellville; three great-grandchildren, Alexia, Aaron and Ashlye Kleywegt; one brother, Norbert (Pat) Frueh of St. Mary's; three sisters, Loretta Peterson of Indianola, Virginia Bassler of Columbia, GA., and Wilma Hill of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Haines Frueh and his son, Thomas Matlage.