Robert George Frey, 67, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, (though forever a Tarheel) passed away on March 9, 2026, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Robert was born on Aug. 2, 1958, to Edwin and Joan Frey in Cincinnati, Ohio.
After Robert graduated from Ashbrook High School in 1976, he studied chemistry at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. After graduating with a degree in chemistry, he started working in the polyurethane and construction industry and eventually moved out to Boulder, Colorado, to work for Kryptonics. This kickstarted a 44-year career. From Boulder, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1988 to join Tandem Products.
The following January, Robert met Shirley Miller in Minneapolis, and two years later, they were married on May 11, 1991, in South Minneapolis. In 1992, they moved down to the St. Louis, Missouri, area where Robert worked for Ludlow-Saylor in Warrensburg, Missouri. A year and a half later, they moved to Marquette, Michigan, where Robert and his business partners started Argonics polyurethane business.
In Michigan, Robert and Shirley went on to have two children, Alex (1994) and Alyson (1998). In 1999, they moved to St. Croix Falls, where Robert started working for Durex Products. It was in St. Croix Falls where the family would make many memories sledding, playing in leaf piles, and watching Carolina basketball games. He also served as the church treasurer at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Croix Falls for more than 15 years. He authored decades of engaging and humorous annual Christmas newsletters, recounting fun family milestones as well as Carolina Tarheel basketball accolades. In 2024, Robert retired and was able to spend more time with family and friends, going on many more adventures.
Robert was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Frey, and his mother, Joan Frey (nee Woelfel). He is survived by wife, Shirley; son and daughter-in-law, Alex and Lydia; daughter, Alyson; and brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Julie.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, March 21, at Grandstrand Funeral Home in Osceola, Wisconsin, with a time for sharing of memories starting at 5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Brain Tumor Society, nbtsevents.braintumor.org/fundraiser/7061884.
Alternatively, you can write checks to the National Brain Tumor Society and mail them to 55 Chapel Street, Suite 006, Newton, MA 02458. Memo lines should reference that it is in memory of Robert Frey.
