Thomas H. Frieze

Thomas H. Frieze was born on January 27, 1937, to Clarence Ivan Frieze, Sr., and Mildred (Jenkins) Frieze at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in the Kansas City area, graduating from Shawnee Mission High School (now Shawnee Mission North), where he was active in the marching band. Tom served nine years in the Army, playing the flute and performing piccolo solos in the Kansas National Guard 42nd Army Band. He especially enjoyed participating in parades and celebrations for new National Guard Armories around the United States. In 1957, Tom completed a course of study in electronics at Central Technical Institute in Missouri and became chief engineer for KBKC in Kansas, which became KBEA and KBEY. In 1962, Tom completed his Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Kansas and later received his Master’s in Education from Webster University. Tom had a wide variety of hobbies including welding, electronics, and audio and video technology. In addition to flute and piccolo, he was trained in piano and organ and particularly enjoyed classical music, Broadway plays, and organ and piano music.

Tom taught for decades in Kansas City and in the Shawnee Mission School District at schools including Roesland Elementary (where he met his future wife) and Tomahawk Elementary. In addition to teaching, Tom ran the schools’ audio/visual equipment, served as a systems administrator, and sponsored the Student Council and Safety Patrol. While a teacher at Roesland Elementary, he also worked as a police officer for the Roeland Park Police Department. After retiring from teaching in 1997, he substituted for years in SMSD.

Tom was preceded in death by both parents and his brother, Clarence Ivan (C.I.) Frieze, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Teresa “Terri” (Wishall) of 57 years, his children, Pamela Rooks, Kelley (Alex) Mitchell, Jayme Hamilton, Tom (Elizabeth) Frieze, and 13 grandchildren: Natalie (Dawson) Lemmons; Alexander, Julia, Evan, Andrew, Mary Kate, and Violet Mitchell; Claire Rooks; Kaiden Hamilton; and Lillian, Sean, Benjamin, and Isaac Frieze.

Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, Kansas, on October 22 at 10:30 a.m. with a rosary at 9:30 a.m. followed by visitation. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Shawnee, Kansas. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Joseph Catholic Church, https://church.stjoeshawnee.org/give

Catholic Charities https://catholiccharitiesks.org/donate/  or your favorite non-profit organization.