Janet Frey

Janet Gay Frey (nee Buske) was a lot of things: a stay-at-home mother, realtor, college graduate, gallery owner, and wonderful wife. She passed away on Friday, October 18, 2019. Her family was with her at the final home she created for them in New Bern, NC. Born on September 5, 1942 in Watertown, Wisconsin to Florence and Ewald Buske. Her father taught her to "always look around one more corner” which became our family motto. She grew up in the Watertown community that she loved, among cousins, uncles, and aunts and many friends that loved her dearly. She went on to college at UW Whitewater, then on to UW-Madison, where she met Danny Frey. Introduced by friends, she was wary at first, but just 2 years later, married Daniel Reed Frey in 1964, alongside the mighty Rock River in Watertown. (Married for 55 years!)

What a journey they had, starting in Northern Minnesota, then on to Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois then Geneva, Switzerland, Salisbury, Rhodesia, Johannesburg, South Africa, Paris, France and back to Peoria, Illinois. Son Peter was born in Peoria, IL and daughter Sarah was born in Paris, France. Peter (Amanda Triplett) live in New Bern, and Sarah (Don Howe) live in St.Petersburg, FL.

Sarah and Peter grew up in Kansas City area, after which Jan and Dan moved to Columbus, OH, Milwaukee, WI, and finally Savannah, GA after they retired. The journey continued with Jan starting and owning art galleries with both art and artful objects (janfrey gallery) in Columbus, Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Apalachicola, and Savannah. After retiring to Savannah, they continued their journey to Apalachicola, Ybor City, Passe-A-Grille, Fl, before settling in New Bern 5 years ago.

Jan always had a talent for recognizing and enjoying emerging artists, and created artful homes at every stop on their journeys.

Janet Gay Frey was a strong and independent woman who loved raising 2 great kids, supporting her husband's career, and was very successful in her own career. Her son-in-law reflected on his 1st meeting with Jan: She was standing on the front porch with “a candelabra in one hand, and a glass of champagne in the other hand”. She was one of a kind, and always will be remembered with love and laughter.

There will be a private memorial service at a later date.