Russell "Rusty" J. Freiburger, 65, of New Diggings, WI passed away at home on Monday, July 6, 2026, after a lengthy health struggle. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17th at the Haudenshield Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba City, WI; with Pastor John Swiney officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Family & friends may call on Friday, July 17th from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. The Haudenshield Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba City, WI is serving the family.

Rusty was born on September 17, 1960 to Franklin & Mary (Bussan) Freiburger. He grew up in rural Hazel Green, WI as the oldest of 8 children. He spent his youth on the family farm, enjoyed fishing, working on the farm and keeping up to a large extended family. From a young age, he enjoyed playing sports. After school, he could be found listening or watching a ball game with a cold beverage or later in life a cold beer in his hand, while cheering on the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, or Wisconsin Badgers. He loved farming with his father, he later then purchased a farm on Johnson Road outside Shullsburg, WI. He enjoyed spicy and unique foods, with an appreciation for Asian cuisine after the time he spent in Taiwan for work. He worked for A.Y. McDonald Brass Foundry for many years, before transitioning to maintenance and electrical work at Berry Plastics, and Georgia Pacific.

In 1995, he met and married the love of his life, Diane Coonfare. They created a life together in New Diggings, WI, where they enjoyed, morel hunting, deer hunting, trap shooting and fishing around Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. They enjoyed their drives to the river and visits to the casino. He also enjoyed turtle hunting, fishing, mudding around the farm, sitting around a campfire, trap shooting, always enjoyed talking with anybody and "politely" arguing politics, his beloved dogs & cat: Minnie, Ginger & Peachy Cat. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Rusty is survived by his wife, Diane; 2 step-daughters: Katrina (Chad) Gleason of Shullsburg, WI and Magen (Josh) Krieg of Edgewood, IA; 8 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; his mother, Mary Freiburger; 6 siblings: Francis (Pam) Freiburger, Julie (Steve) Freiburger-Okonek, Debra (Mike) Roegner, Terry (Sarah) Freiburger, Tammy (Greg) Schneider & Tina (Dan Klein) Freiburger; a sister-in-law. Tami Freiburger (the late Steve Freiburger's wife); along by many nieces and nephews. He also left behind his loving dog, Ginger.

He was preceded in death by his father, Franklin Freiburger, his grandparents, and a brother, Steve Freiburger.

In lieu of plants & flowers, a Russell "Rusty" J. Freiburger Memorial Fund has been established.

Memorials may be mailed to:

Haudenshield Funeral Home
c/o: Rusty Freiburger Family
P.O. BOX 825
Cuba City, WI 53807