Wendell Paul Freiheit

Wendell Paul Freiheit, age 86, of Wykoff, Minn., passed away peacefully at his home on May 9, 2025.

Born May 16, 1938, in Wykoff to Arlow and Esther (Hazelbush) Freiheit. Wendell graduated from Wykoff School in 1957. After he graduated, he served in the Army for two years followed by being in the Reserve for five years. The majority of his life he was a dairy farmer and loved anything to do with raising crops and his dairy cows. The cows were sold in 2002, following that Wendell worked at Walmart for 13 years prior to retiring. Wendell married Mary Aakre and had three children: Steve, Patty and Mike. They were later divorced. He married the love of his life, Margaret Ruesink in 1979, she has three children: Becky, Holly and Adam. Together they created years of memories. Wendell enjoyed going for drives in his convertible, playing cards, going to casinos, doing puzzles, and collecting tractors. He had a love for the orange, Allis-Chalmers. His favorites were his D-19 and W-D. They wintered in Apache Junction, Ariz., for 24 years with their friends. 

Wendell is survived by his wife Margaret (Ruesink) Freiheit, six children: Steve (Amy) Freiheit of Wykoff, Minn., Patty (Joe) O’Connell of Spring Valley, Minn., Mike (Sonja) Freiheit of Lawton, Okla., Becky Adkins of Perham, Minn., Holly (Corey) Sanford of Spring Valley, Minn., and Adam Leighton of Stewartville, Minn. He is also remembered by 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

Wendell enjoyed all the time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He especially spoiled the girls; that is what the boys said. 

Wendell is preceded in death by his parents Arlow and Esther Freiheit, brother Darrel Freiheit and 3-year-old brother, sisters Shirley Iverson and LaDonna Lindquist, grandsons Brady Sanford and Dalton Freiheit. 

Services are set for 11 a.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025, at our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. Visitation is set for 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley. Burial will be at the Martin Luther “Midway” Cemetery near Spring Valley.