Lavern "Pete" Freiheit

Lavern “Pete” Louis Freiheit, 85, of Red Wing, died Sunday, August 31, 2025, at his home. He was born on September 23, 1939, in Lake City to Louis and Evelyn (Holst) Freiheit. He graduated from Lake City High School in 1957 and then attended the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture. He returned to the family farm, worked at Gould Manufacturing in Lake City and also served in the Army National Guard. On October 1, 1960, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Gronseth at the Dale Lutheran Church rural Kenyon. They were blessed with two children, Heidi and Troy. In 1968, he and Marilyn moved to Princeton where he operated the Sherburne Mobile Home Park with his parents. In 1976, they moved to Cannon Falls where was employed with Farm Systems. He then began making toy tractors in his shop which became a passion and business. He developed the Freiheit Tractor Company and built several thousand collectable toy tractors. Living in Pepin, WI he continued the manufacturing of the collectable toy tractor lines. He later relocated to Red Wing and he kept himself busy making toy tractors and later adding railroad cars. During that time, he attended many farm toy shows and was inducted into the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame in 2015. Pete was a member of United Lutheran Church and the Leo C. Peterson American Legion Post #54. Besides traveling, Pete enjoyed boating, gardening, his cats and was an avid Vikings fan.

Pete is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn of 65 years; two children, Troy (Diane) Freiheit and Heidi (Tim) Anderson; five grandchildren, William and Zigmund Freiheit and Levi, Ethan and Gideon Anderson; one brother, Larry (Donna Sue) Freiheit and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Lee and one sister, Judy along with other relatives.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, September 20, 2025, at United Lutheran Church in Red Wing with Reverend Brian Scott officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at a later date at the Dale Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice. Arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.