Michael Paul Froehlich

 Michael Paul Froehlich 

 October 6th, 1962 – January 22nd, 2017 

 Michael Paul Froehlich was born in Rockford, Illinois to Ralph and Evelyn Froehlich. Michael was the 7th of their 8 children.  Michael grew up in Indianapolis and was one of the first three children at the Montessori Activities Centre, which his mother began.  As a child, Michael had a love of collecting stamps, and riding bicycles.  Michael attended Bishop Chatard High School, where he lettered in golf & wrestling.  After Chatard, Michael went on to study Aerospace Engineering at Purdue, where he finished his Bachelor’s Degree and his Master’s Degree.  During college, Michael began brewing beer with his college friends for two reasons – he enjoyed brewing beer and it was cheaper (and better) than buying commercial beer.  After Purdue, Michael went to work at General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas.  He then moved to Los Angeles where he started his long career in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Programming 

 Michael enjoyed his life in California. He continued his love for home brewed beer and was an avid brewer.  Michael was a member of the Strand Brewer’s Club and an integral part of the Annual Southern California Home Brew Festival.  He moved to Long Beach, continuing his love of beer, even opening a home-brew supply store Stein Fillers with Julie & friends. As his love and knowledge of beer continued he became a Certified Beer Judge (American Homebrew Association) and then became a National Beer Judge through the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP).  He judged multiple beer competitions around Southern California.  Michael helped form the Long Beach Homebrewers club and was one of the founding members.  He routinely volunteered with the Southern California Homebrew Society and helped plan their annual tasting event in May. 

 During his travels, Michael went to Fort Worth for a wedding celebration and met a wonderful woman, Julie, during that trip. They dated long distance, fell in love, and became engaged.  They married in July 1994 in Fort Worth.  That’s the same year they opened Stein Fillers in Long Beach with partners Don and Nancy Van Valkenberg. Michael and Julie welcomed their first son, Riley, in February 1998.  They enjoyed taking Riley on many adventures, travels, and cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. They moved from Long Beach to Lakewood and then welcomed their second son, Nicholas, in January 2002. The laughs continued and as a family, Michael and Julie would visit many places with their sons – a lot of them to visit family in Texas, Indiana, and Europe. They were both very involved in their school, activities, and helping them grow into fine young men.  He loved his wife Julie and sons Riley and Nicholas and loved planning the many adventures they shared.  Some of their favorite family trips included Alaska, Seattle, Mexico, Maui, and San Francisco. 

 Michael loved food, grilling good meat and good music. He was a big supporter of KCRW and loved listening to the Blues. Although he couldn’t convince Riley and Nicholas that blues music was good, he supported the music they enjoyed too.  Music was one thing that they often shared – going to concerts or seeing live bands. He, Julie & the boys would be the first to try a new restaurant from Chow-hound or brag about the best Bon Mi sandwich he found at a Vietnamese restaurant: they were quickly the source to go to for a great restaurant suggestion. 

 Michael was very active in his sons’ lives too. After Riley started playing soccer at 6, Michael decided to become a referee to stay active with Riley’s interest.  Riley and Michael took the classes (and advanced Referee classes) and became not only referees but also LA Galaxy soccer season ticket holders.  Nicholas was more interested in photography – so he and Michael would often go to various locations around Los Angeles to take nature photos or have a photo shoot with their dog Bogey (Pug).  They also built a float to enter Bogey into the dog costume parade – a Starbuck’s (Pug) Barrista float. 

 Michael was a fun-loving, jovial man who had a love for all things that make a full life; family, friends, great beer, and great food.  Michael was a diehard Purdue fan and would make an annual trip to Purdue every year for a tailgate party.  Friends and family would gather in West Lafayette and help cheer on the Boilermakers to victory – but more importantly, gather and visit with each other.  It was an annual event that brought together many former Boilermakers and friends. He had a wonderful smile and an infectious laugh.  Michael was larger than life and would often brighten the room as he walked in.  He had a zest for life, a wonderful laugh and a terrific smile.  He had the ability to make you laugh by raising his eyebrows and giving you the “look.”  He loved his wife Julie and sons Riley and Nicholas and the adventures they shared.  He was a wonderful friend, always had a smile and was always ready to help anyone that needed it.  He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting him.  Michael left us way too young. . . . 

 Michael is survived by his wife, Julie, and his sons Riley and Nicholas Froehlich. He is also survived by six of his siblings: Lynn Boone, Ralph and Linda Froehlich, Jimmie and Kami Froehlich, Susan Froehlich and David Ojala, Bill and Jean Froehlich and Angela and Ron Burkard.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews on both sides of the family (Froehlich and Takes).   He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Evelyn Froehlich, and sibling Annette Froehlich. 

 In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to You Caring in Michael’s honor. Web link:  https://www.youcaring.com/juliefrohlech-745237  

 Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401