Rene Frey

Rene was born and raised in Basel, Switzerland. He received his education there and started a career in international shipping, forwarding and trade. To gain more language and international business experience, he went to college in England and then gained more work experience with a brewery and a shipping company in London. Main emphasis was on exports.

In 1959, he came to Winnipeg to experience the other end of the supply chain, working as the export manager for the recently establish office of Kuehne & Nagel Canada Ltd., which was opened by a colleague he worked with in Basel. Late 1962, he returned to Europe, by the way of assisting Manitoba’s first Trade Mission as travel and trade adviser and then working again in international trade and transportation in Switzerland and Germany. In 1964, he was called upon by the Manitoba Government and accepted a position as trade facilitator in the newly created Manitoba Export/Manitoba Trading Corporation (now Manitoba Trade & Investment). For over 32 years, he enjoyed working with new to export manufacturers and emerging markets by hands-on assistance in business execution.

In 1966, he married Katharina Nagel (also from Switzerland) and they raised 2 children (Deborah & Markus). Besides the occasional business travel to new markets and Trade Shows for Manitoba manufactures, he enjoyed the travels with his family throughout North America, Europe and China. He participated in some of his wife’s volunteer activities and staffed a water station for over 30 years at the Manitoba Marathon since its inception.

After retirement in 1996, his hobbies and visits to the grandchildren Chase, Austin and Brandon (in Texas and California) and Jonah in Winnipeg kept him busy. Travel to exotic places and visits to Switzerland with Katharina were always on in his plans.

God has now called Rene to join his wife of 51 years (passed away in 2017) and first, stillborn son Daniel in Heaven.

He leaves behind daughter Deborah Dymont-Frey and family in California, and son Markus Frey and family in Winnipeg.

As per Rene’s request, cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will take place at a later date

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thomsoninthepark.com for the Frey family.