Margo Walther Frey

Margo Walther Frey passed away peacefully on February 15 after a two-decade long courageous battle with a difficult lung disease. Margo is survived by her life-long soul mate, her husband of 60 years, Jim Frey.

She is further survived by her daughter Michelle (Pete) Loberg, son David (Bonnie) Frey, her six adored and devoted grandchildren: Chad Loberg (Jess Evans), Callan (Samantha Statz) Loberg, Chelsey (Justin) Thieme, Haley Frey, McKenna Frey, and Carson Frey, and her great-grandchildren: Holden & Sawyer Evans and Hadley & Paisley Thieme. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anabel and Lester Walther, and her brother Jimmy.

Margo was born in Watertown, Wisconsin on July 1, 1941, and spent the early years of her life in Fort Atkinson. She earned a BA degree in French from Cardinal Stritch College [CSC], an MS degree in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee [UWM], and an EdD degree in Adult Education from Nova University.

After graduation from CSC, Margo taught French at three educational levels (middle school, high school, and university). From 1973-76, she was Academic Counselor in the Independent Learning Program at Indiana University-Bloomington, then Director of the Volunteer Students Bureau, and later Academic Counselor for the Division of Biological Sciences. As a volunteer, Margo also presented career workshops throughout the State of Indiana for the University’s Office of Continuing Education for Women. Her willingness to accept speaking and workshop assignments anywhere within the State of Indiana earned her the nickname “Fearless Frey.”

Margo’s experiences in Indiana led her back to Milwaukee in 1977 to be Director of Adult Education and Career Services at CSC. She also served on the CSC advisory council to the Department of Business and Economics. 

An early advocate of innovative adult education, Margo started her doctoral degree program in 1982 at the age of 41. While she was a full-time employee at CSC, she took graduate courses in Milwaukee, Fond du Lac WI, Chicago, Palm Desert CA, Phoenix, and Fort Lauderdale FL. She completed the doctoral degree program in only three years. Her dissertation was selected for special recognition by Nova University. She became one of only seven national-board certified career counselors in Wisconsin, and was licensed by the State of Wisconsin as a Professional Counselor.

Throughout her career, Margo enjoyed individual career counseling best. In 1989, she started her own business, Career Development Services, Inc. In addition to assisting individual clients, she served as an adviser to employers, evaluating candidates for employment and promotions and providing outplacement counseling. 

Margo designed and taught numerous continuing education courses for CSC, Mount Mary College, UWM, Waukesha County Technical College, and St. Mary’s College (Minnesota). She also wrote a weekly career column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Margo was a member of ten professional career counseling associations and she served on the board of directors of several of them. She appeared on radio and TV in the United States, New Zealand, and Japan.

In June 2007, Margo retired to devote her time and energy to fighting bronchiectasis, the disease she contracted in April 2001 which ultimately took her life.

In addition to spending time with professional colleagues and friends, Margo valued opportunities to travel with her husband, and she enjoyed her relationships with her children and grandchildren, talking with friends, meditation, spirituality, theater, movies, and reading.

Join her family for a celebration of her life on Saturday, May 11. Come anytime between 1 and 4pm, fond memories will be shared at 2pm, at The Milwaukee Friends Meeting House (3224 North Gordon Place, Milwaukee, 53212). Additional parking will be available in the school lot next door.

Those who wish to honor Margo’s memory are encouraged to donate to her favorite charity, Our Next Generation (www.ongkids.org).