Brandon man found dead in Germany

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This article was published 27/08/2018 (2741 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A three-week search for missing Brandon man Jeffrey David Freiheit ended on the weekend when he was found dead at the bottom of a ridge.

A Facebook post by his wife, Selena, on Sunday morning confirmed that Freiheit had been found.

“It is with overwhelming grief and sadness that I share with you that Jeff was found and is no longer with us,” Selena wrote in the post. “Through a broken heart I’ve found peace in knowing that he did not suffer. Our family is beyond grateful for the outpouring of support during this sad and difficult time.”

The 32-year-old Brandon teacher had gone hiking in Europe, and hadn’t been heard from for more than three weeks.

According to a video posted by Alpine Life, Freiheit’s body was discovered by his mom, Kathy, Saturday at 11:36 a.m., at the bottom of a ridge where it is believed he died instantly. “Jeff must have fallen 50 to 60 metres from the ridgeline,” the man in the Alpine Life video said.

They believe he suffered no pain.

He was remembered as a great role model to so many people. His cousin Jamie Freiheit remembered watching him coach basketball at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School in Brandon. Caring, loving, accepting and patient is how Freiheit described his cousin Jeff.

“He was the kind of guy that wore his heart on his sleeve and gave everything he had to each practice and game,” Jamie said.

“He had the ability to make it fun and challenging, always willing to do things a bit different.

“He was a great coach.”

Freiheit was involved with many different things, from coaching to teaching, and he put a lot of effort into everything he did, his cousin said.

“He had the drive and fire in his belly that fuelled his passion for whatever he was doing,” Jamie said.

“I am so proud of him. I wish I could have told him that before.”

Wife Selena had last heard from Freiheit Aug. 2 when he was in Bad Tölz, Germany, en route along a hiking trail called Der Traumpfad (The Dream Way), which runs from Munich to Venice. Freiheit had booked accommodations along the trail, but never checked in. Selena and Kathy Freiheit flew to Germany just more than two weeks ago to help assist in the search.

A GoFundMe page was created that raised more than $50,000 to support search efforts for Freiheit.

Almost $2,000 was raised recently from Brandon-area businesses that donated various items. The items were auctioned off for $1,800, and that total was added to the GoFundMe page.

There was also a volunteer search group on Facebook that had accumulated 534 members called “Volunteers searching for JEFF FREIHEIT.”

“We greatly appreciate all of the support that we continue to receive at home and abroad,” Selena wrote in a Facebook post about two weeks ago.

When contacted by the Brandon Sun, the family asked for privacy.

mverge@brandonsun.comTwitter: @Melverge5