Barry James "Bear" Frenzel

Barry James "Bear" Frenzel of Des Plaines since 1964 Barry James "Bear" Frenzel, 47, born Feb. 5, 1963, passed away at home Jan. 4, 2011, after a valiant six-year battle with leukemia and related complications of GVHD. Barry was born in Chicago and spent most of his life living in Des Plaines and Chicago. Barry graduated from Forest View High School in 1981 and attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.Barry spent many years in the restaurant and hospitality business in Chicago before moving to Arizona. He spent a year there before returning to Illinois to work with his father as owner/operators of printing businesses, the Print Shack in Mount Prospect and AA Printers in Bensenville. After the untimely death of his adored mother in 2000, Barry unselfishly put his own life on hold to care for his dear terminally ill father during the final two years of his life, providing daily care until his father's death in 2002. Barry was the devoted son of the late Lenore C. (nee Koziol) and Gerald A. Frenzel and beloved brother of Wolfman (Patty), Bryan (Dawn) and Valynteen Frenzel, and cherished uncle of Ian, Sean, Lindsey and "Skyler" Frenzel. He enjoyed time spent with his extended family and many friends, and was the most loyal friend you could ever have. Barry had many interests in life and was very active until his illness. He loved the outdoors and was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, camping, motorcycling and snowboarding. His love of nature included rock collecting, astronomy, and marine biology. Barry also loved auto racing and enjoyed annual trips to the Indy 500 with friends. Barry had a lifelong passion for football and played football in high school. He was a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears and the Grateful Dead. He was also a Mr. Fixit and enjoyed tinkering. If anyone could fix it, Barry could. Barry's quick wit and sense of humor were epic, and he was always ready with a joke to cheer you up even on your darkest days. He maintained this sense of humor throughout his illness and it is for this trait above all others that he will be remembered. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 15, at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St. (Northwest Highway/Route 14 at Rand Road), Des Plaines, from noon until 2 p.m. with a memorial service celebrating Barry's all too short life beginning at 2 p.m. Fr. Jack Plokowski of St. Zachary Church will officiate. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Barry's name to Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding Center, NFP, 1181 Riverwoods Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045, 847-234-2411, www.horsefeatherscenter.org. Horsefeathers is a registered NFP charity, IRS 501 (c)(3) organization eligible for company matching funds on charitable donations from many corporations.