Gerald Frederick Friauf

Gerald Frederick Friauf

Muscle Shoals, AL

Gerald F. Friauf passed away December 1st at North Alabama Medical Center, as the result of a rare reaction known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

He was born May 21st, 1937, in Milwaukee, WI to Gordon and Ruth Friauf. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1959 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and received his commission in the United States Army after completing the ROTC program.

He married Ann H. Morrison on August 23, 1958, and after graduation together they left, along with their son, Kyle, for his 3 ½ year military assignment in Karlsruhe, Germany. They continued to grow their family while overseas, Scott was born in Heidelberg, Germany.

When they returned to the States in 1963, he joined Rinderknecht & Associates Construction company and served in the Iowa National Guard. During his 39-year career at the construction company, he was also involved with many community organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, The American Legion, Fraternal Order of Eagles, The Elks and Rotary International. He also volunteered at the Hawkeye Hill Ski Club and Miracles in Motion Therapeutic Equestrian Center.

He served on many boards and held many officer roles, including the President of Master Builders of Iowa, Miracles in Motion Board, Allied Construction Interest Inc., member of Labor Negotiations Committee, President of National Women in Construction, and Founder of Quality in Construction. He received several awards, including the Build Iowa award and co-authored a book on Total Quality Management.

After serving as president and CEO of Rinderknecht, he retired in 2002 and divided his time between Cedar Rapids and Englewood, FL. They moved to the Shoals area of Alabama in 2020, still spending summers in Cedar Rapids.

He enjoyed his life. He loved children, his own and everyone else’s. He enjoyed football, cheering for the Green Bay Packers and Iowa Hawkeyes (even when they played the Badgers!). He loved skiing, boating at the cabin on Lake Delhi, horseback riding, fox hunting with the Moingona Hunt Club in Des Moines, ice fishing on Lake Mille Lacs, dancing, playing the piano and his harmonica. He dressed as Santa Clause and brought many smiles to children’s faces for friends, families, and local organizations. He was a leader, a mentor and friend to all.

He was preceded in death by his parents Gordon and Ruth Friauf and his brother Tom.

He is survived by his wife, Ann, of 66 years of marriage, a son, Kyle Friauf (Eva) of Muscle Shoals, AL, a son Scott Friauf (Stacey) of Cedar Rapids, IA, a daughter, Christine Lahr (Brad) of Rochester, MN, a sister Peg Landmann of Anderson, IN, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held next summer in Cedar Rapids. Please consider a donation to Miracles in Motion in his name. It was his favorite charity. Cremation Services are handled by The Neptune Society. Visit Obituaries on NeptuneSociety.Com to see photos, share condolences and memories with the family.