Robert "Rob" L. Frei, 62 of Wagner
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Wagner, with Pastor R. Duane Coates officiating. Visitation will be at Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, with the family present. Memorials will be directed to the Wagner Foundation.

Robert "Rob" Laird Frei, son of Robert H. and Betty (Laird) Frei, was born June 24, 1948 in Yankton, SD. He died Friday, September 17, 2010 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Wagner, after a valiant fight with cancer. Rob attained the age of 62 years, two months and 25 days.

Rob graduated from Wagner Community School, USD/Springfield, and Graduate School of Banking in Madison, WI. After his schooling, he worked for a short time in Sioux Falls, SD, then returned to Wagner and worked at the Commercial State Bank all of his life, where he eventually became the President and CEO. The bank and its employees were a second family to Rob.

Childhood friends having met on Pike Bay , Rob married Jill Erickson on June 11, 1971 at Hartford, SD. Three children were blessed to their union.

Rob's life was about family, his job and community service. He was an active member of the Wagner Jaycees, Wagner Rotary Club, Wagner Chamber Commerce, where he served as secretary for 25 years, Director of Wagner Memorial Hospital, United Methodist Church, where he served on the board of directors and Sunday School teacher, 25 year board member of Duck's Unlimited, Wagner Area Growth, Wagner Foundation, Fort Randall Boat Club, and Pike Bay Cottagers League. Rob was a former member of the Wagner Labor Day Committee and also had served as a Little League coach.

Rob was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, golfing and cooking. Rob loved to spend time at the cabin in Minnesota with his family and was blessed to go there in August. He loved his hunting dogs and they reciprocated. Rob's main love in life was always his family and grandchildren. He will be remembered for always going the extra mile for his family and others, but never asking for anything in return.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Jill and their children: Ericka and husband Dave Kotab and their son Radek; Bill and wife Patty and their children Colton and Callie, all of Wagner; and Michael and wife Kara and their son Robert Laird of Pickstown; two sisters: Barbara and husband LaVerne Hrdlicka of York, NE and Bonnie and husband Dave Birger of Sioux Falls; and many friends.

Rob was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Bill; and grandson Logan Theodore Frei.