EDWIN FRESE

     Mr. Edwin Frese, 82, of 2450 South 12th St., died at 5:42 a.m. Friday (May 26, 2006) in his home.

     Born July 7, 1923 in Quincy, Eddie was the son of Herman and Margaret Blickhan Frese. He married Christine M. Johnson on October 27, 1962 in Quincy. She survives.

     Mr. Frese was active in racing in the Quincy area and began his racing career on motorcycles in 1948. He started racing stock cars in 1950 and competed at many local tracks such as: Quincy, Pittsfield, Jacksonville, Macomb, Burlington, and other tracks throughout the midwest. In his early racing career, Eddie was the only driver that ran a Cadillac engine in his race car. He raced in local sanction races as well as the IMCA Sprint Car Division and the Mississippi Valley Sprint Car Association gaining many wins throughout his career. Piloting his well known blue and white #17, Eddie enjoyed winning nine straight features at the Pittsfield Speedway in 1963. He loved racing the Sprint Car without a cage and said there was nothing better then being our in the open. At that time cages were mandatory on non sprint car races, but had to be removed for sprint car sanction races. Mr. Frese retired from racing in 1977. In his later years he enjoyed playing euchre and gambling at area casinos.

     Eddie was employed as a truck driver for Hinton-White Truck Service for several years until his retirement.

     Also surviving is his son, Eddy Lee Frese and his wife Donna of Naples, FL.; a step son, Terry W. Johnson and his wife Mary Jo of Burlington, IA.; a sister in law, Dorothy Frese of Quincy; a brother in law, Grover Ellerman of Quincy; two nephews, Brad Ellerman and Michael L. Frese, both of Quincy; and many great nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Maxine Ellerman; a brother, Robert E. Frese; a grandson, Kevin Frese; a niece, Deborah Frese; and a nephew, Robert E. Frese Jr.

     Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10:00 in the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home by Rev. Marlin Rempfer. Cremation rites will be accorded following the services. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

     Visitation will be held Monday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 and Tuesday morning until the time of services at the funeral home.

     Memorials may be made to the Edwin L. Frese Memorial Fund.