Michael R. Friedl

Michael Robert Friedl, 69, son of Glenn and Barbara (Stauss) Friedl, was born in Milwaukee on July 28th, 1954. He lived in Berlin, WI and Madison with his 5 siblings before coming to Watertown, where he graduated from high school in 1972. He moved to Florida, where he found Jesus, which changed the course of his life. He was a faithful husband to Laurel (Dede) for 49 years, and raised 4 children in WI and Clinton, IA. Shortly after returning to Watertown in 2011, he was diagnosed with Parkinsons, and succumbed to ALS on June 1st, 2024, shy of his 70th birthday.

 Mike's passion in life was to know the Lord Jesus as his Savior and live accordingly. He was up every morning reading the bible. His life verse was Micah 6:8 "...to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Thy God". One of Mike's great joys (outside of having a wife and kids) was the opportunity to serve on and train mission trips to Ukraine and Thailand.

He gave 100% to everything he did, and provided for his family the best he was able. He loved his kids, served at church, raised livestock, and went back to school at WITC (Rice Lake) for agribusiness and finance. He plumbed and wired, and built things in his workshop. He was a computer geek before there was such a thing and had the Friedl sense of humor.

Mike is survived by his wife Laurel (Dede); four children Uriah (Taneka), Jasmine (Tanner), Noel (Rachelle), and Zachary (Bethany); three grandchildren Kanon, Madeleine, and Mercer; siblings Mary (Neal) Meyerson, Matthew, and Andrew (Lynette). His parents and two siblings Ellen and David left earth before him. Mike had mentors who shaped him, and many of them are gone as well.

A memorial service will be held at River Valley Alliance Church, 610 Welsh Rd, Watertown, on July 21st at 3pm, with visiting at 2pm, and a light lunch thereafter. The family would be blessed to see you there, and is grateful for supportive friends through the years, especially those who helped through this last bit. Mike is now Whole and Healed and forever with the LORD. Memorials can be made to C&MA missions, or SEND international. Conversely, a gift to the ALS or Parkinson's Associations would also be a good choice.