Rev. Clyde Felix Friedman, age 101, of Deerfield

Rev. Clyde Felix Friedman, age 101, of Deerfield, Illinois passed on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Highland Park Hospital. He was born prematurely on January 9, 1923 in the farm house of his parents, William and Nora (Breitwieser) Friedman, in Dubois, Indiana. He was the oldest of seven children.

After graduating from Dubois High School in 1941, Clyde worked on the family farm as well as assembling furniture in Jasper, Indiana before he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He served for 3 years in the U.S.Clyde earned a bachelor of arts degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in 1950. He then graduated from Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio in 1954. Clyde was ordained as a Lutheran pastor at his home church, St. Johns Lutheran Church at Crossroads in Dubois, Indiana 70 years ago.

At his internship at Peace Lutheran Church in Oshkosh Wisconsin, Clyde met his future wife. He married Janet J. Gruetzmacher, the love of his life, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on July 3, 1954. Clyde served at Lutheran parishes in Kingsway, Ohio; Montra, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; Angola, Indiana; Linton, Indiana; and Zion Lutheran in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he retired in 2004.Clyde and Janet were very involved in many church activities including Stephen Ministry, Bible Studies, and Food Pantry. In his 80s, Clyde made 3 trips to New Orleans and Mississippi to help with Hurricane Katrina clean up. Clyde also volunteered as a Oshkosh Police Chaplain and a docent at the EAA Museum. He enjoyed gardening; using his computer to make greeting cards and daily Bible devotion booklets and send emails to family and friends; and playing euchre and cribbage. In 2009, Clyde and Janet moved to Deerfield, IL to be close to their one daughter, Julia, and her family. They enjoyed being grandparents and all their activities.

In his final years, Clyde continued his ministry by leading Sunday services and daily devotions with family and caregivers at home. He walked closely with the Lord to the end.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janet; two sisters, Leah Ruth and Judith; and one brother, Harry.

He is survived by his daughter, Julia (Karl) Arbaugh; grandchildren Elaine Arbaugh and Jonathon Arbaugh (Dr. Alexandra Sjaarda); two sisters, Claire Rohleder and Anna Dedrick; one brother, Leroy (Barbara) Friedman; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Rev. Clyde Felix Friedman will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at St. Johns Lutheran Church at the Crossroads in Dubois, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The American Legion Post #147 will conduct military graveside rites.A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service time at the church on Thursday.

Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church at the Crossroads in Dubois, Indiana or Lutheran World Relief World Hunger.

Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com