Edward Thomas Freiburger, 53

Edward Thomas Freiburger, “Little Ed,” 53, passed away July 12, 2018, in Columbia Falls.

Ed was born July 20, 1964, in East Dubuque, Illinois, to Ed and Eileen (Pitts) Freiburger. Ed was raised in the Tri-States (Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin) and moved to Montana in 2004. Ed graduated from East Dubuque High School and got a degree in electronic engineering from the Madison School of Electronics in Madison, Wisconsin.

Ed worked several years for the Iowa Pipeline with his tormentor in life Jimmy Coulson, and at Georgia Pacific in Dubuque, Illinois. Upon moving to Montana, Ed worked for PaveCo and Weaver Gravel and his good friend Ernie Gravelin and, most recently, for Slick Finish Drywall with his “bro-in-law” Dean Roberts.

Ed loved to hunt, fish, pick morels and huckleberries, and go on long rides exploring all Montana had to offer with his friends and family here in Montana.

Ed loved his mother, sisters and brother and all his nieces and nephews dearly. He was especially fond of Amber Rose Everett-Smith who often got to go on the fishing trips.

Ed was preceded in death by his father Edward G. Freiburger, and his sister-in-law Rose Freiburger, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa.

He is survived by his mother, Eileen Freiburger; brother Ted and wife Sharon, of Hazel Green, Wisconsin; four sisters, Laurie Roberts and husband Dean of Columbia Falls, and Grace Coulson and husband Duane, Judy Pladna and husband Kevin, Jody Meyer and husband Shane, all of East Dubuque; nieces and nephews, Joe, Doug, Chris and Tony Smith, Dane Freiburger, Cody and Kelsie Coulson, Kennedy and Saige Pladna, Carson, Chase, Crue and Cohen Meyer; and great-nieces and –nephews, Astyn Easton and Amber and Abel Smith.

A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 20, Ed’s birthday, at the Blue Moon of Columbia Falls.

The family requests that condolences and donations be sent to Darlington Cremation and Burial Service, 3408 U.S. Hwy. 2 East, Kalispell, MT 59901.