Jamie P Frey

Jamie Frey, 64 passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Alamore Hospital, Alexandria, MN after a brief illness.  He currently was residing at St. Williams Assisted Living, Parker’s Prairie, MN.

Born February 25, 1958, in Jamestown, ND with Down’s Syndrome, Jamie led a full and active life despite his disability.   He resided on the family farm and attended schools in Jamestown until he was 19 years of age.  He then became associated with Pride Industries where he held multiple jobs and resided in a group home in Bismarck for over 40 years.

The ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) was founded in 1952 by a group of parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted their children's abilities to be respected and their independence encouraged. Jamie’s parents, Carl and Fern Frey, were actively engaged along with other Jamestown community parents in ARC.   They created a half-day education program for their children at their own expense. Liz Tanata from Jamestown was their first teacher and school was held in a local church basement, and Jamie was a student there.  ARC was instrumental in lobbying the government to establish the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which ensures that all children and youth with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education to prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. These opportunities prepared Jamie to live a very full and rich life.

Jamie lived life to the fullest which included bowling, basketball and especially dancing with his favorite ladies.   He enjoyed going to Camp Grassick for their summer program, participated in Special Olympics and won several medals for his achievements.

His family was the center of his life and he loved family gatherings, even flying alone to Arizona for Christmas holidays.  His nieces and nephews have fond memories of him trying to keep them in line.  He enriched the lives of many, especially his siblings, nieces, nephews, colleagues and counselors.  Jamie appreciated those who assisted him and all those his life touched felt his warmth.

Well loved by his family and friends, he is survived by his brother Robert Frey (Sharon) and sister Judi Frey Celaschi (David). He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Fern Frey, brother Gary Frey and grand-niece Brandi Braasch. We will all miss Jamie, and are diminished by his passing, but today we can also be thankful for the gift of having known him.

The family welcomes you to a memorial service for Jamie on May 20, 2022, at 11:00 am, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND.