M. Grace Lampert Froehlich, age 82, Oshkosh, WI, a child of God, whose spirit, creativity, talent and love, will be greatly missed, entered into eternal life on April 22, 2013.
Grace was born September 20, 1930, in Dallas, Texas, where her father, Philip Lampert, served as a test pilot at Love Field in the Navy. Her early years were spent in Oshkosh where she attended Sacred Heart Grade School and lived on the south side. She lived from 1941 to 1945 in the Panama Canal Zone, where her father worked as an engineer. She returned to Oshkosh to complete 3 years of high school and graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1948.
She married Erwin Carl Froehlich in October 1948, and they had 6 children. She was a devoted mother who carried most of the parenting responsibilities, as she traveled across the US with her Navy husband. They finally settled in the Chicago area, where they lived from 1967-1987. In 1987, they retired to the Pine River area of WI where they lived until 2009, when Grace moved back to Oshkosh to be nearer her husband when his health declined.
Grace was talented actress and singer who played the piano by ear. She began her musical career at age 12, in Panama where she performed for the USO in Balboa, Panama. She also traveled to the interior of Panama performing with a USO troupe at remote antiaircraft bases. She believed that her talents were God-given and needed to be shared and used to touch lives and she generously did that for 70 years. Grace credits her music teacher Fred Leist at Oshkosh High School for encouraging and supporting her musical talent development. She was active in musical productions and choir while in high school. While raising her children she sang in many church choirs across the country.
Grace started her professional career in the Chicago area once her children were raised; performing at Mr. L.’s Carousel Theatre, Waukegan Community Players, Glenview Community Theatre and Oakton Community College. She was Musical Director at Holy Child High School, Waukegan IL, where many of her girls attended high school. Grace also performed in the Chicago area as a very successful nightclub pianist and singer and was also Musical Director of Imagination Theatre, a not for profit theatre group supporting the arts for schools, the blind, the mentally ill and developmentally challenged.
After retirement to Pine River, WI, Grace entertained in local nursing homes, private parties and community events. She also sang and played the piano at Heidl House and Carvers on the Lake, Green Lake, WI; and performed with Saxville Players and Green Lake Community Players.
Grace was the Musical Director for the Oshkosh Seniors Chorus for 3 years ending in 2011. In 2012, she performed with the Oshkosh Untapped Talent Kiwanis Club’s yearly fundraiser in the category of semi-professional entertainer and won first place.
Grace was an avid reader, who wrote poetry since the age of 12, and enjoyed creative writing. Grace loved her family dearly and was devoted to her children. She told wonderful stories, had a great sense of humor, and an infectious laugh.
She had a strong religious faith that grounded her life. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Oshkosh, WI.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Erwin Froehlich in 2009; her daughter, Sheila Ann Weber in 2006 and her granddaughter, Cara Weber, in 2008, both of Eden Prairie, MN. She is survived by her 5 living children, Margaret Edwards, Albuquerque, NM; Maureen Lewandowski (Bill), Kenosha, WI; Julie Froehlich, Oshkosh, WI; Erwin Froehlich, Oshkosh, WI; and Barbara Finnegan (Tom), Waupaca, WI and two brothers, Dan Lampert (Vera) and Philip Lampert (Helen) both of Appleton, WI. She is also survived by her 6 grandchildren, Jennifer Lewandowski (Charles), Ben Lewandowski (Lindsey), Philip Weber, Sheila Finnegan-Martinez (Nick), Dan Finnegan and Matt Finnegan; and 3 great-grandchildren, Natalie Nagode, Max Beaty, and Wylie Lewandowski plus nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service to celebrate her life will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 311 Division St. Oshkosh, WI on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Wilson Roane officiating. A visitation will be at the church from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A reception will follow immediately after service in the church hall. All are welcome to attend. To leave on on line condolence or share a memory please go to Seefeldfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to The Day by Day Warming Shelter, 449 High St. Oshkosh, WI 54901, tel. 920-203-4865 in her memory.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank two organizations for the caring and empathic and incredible nursing care provided to our Mother during her extended illness- Eden Meadows (Lutheran Homes) and Aurora VNA and Hospice. Special thanks to two very special professionals who enriched our mother’s life and gently prepared her for her death- Stacy Schmidt, RN and Shelley Sedo, hospice home and health aide, both of Aurora Hospice.

Seefeld Funeral and Cremation Services
1025 Oregon Street
Oshkosh, WI 54902
920-236-7750
www.seefeldfuneral.com

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