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Parents honor child with scholarship

Katrina Froeschle's parents turn grief to action and set up a scholarship in her name at Florida State University.

By BRIAN WHITE
Published June 28, 2005

TAMPA - Katrina Froeschle was killed while working at a job she loved, her parents said Monday, and they want to help others pursue similar careers with a scholarship fund established in her memory.

Froeschle, an insurance adjuster, was killed in November when she went to Jason Funk's Sulphur Springs home about an insurance claim for hurricane damage.

Funk pleaded guilty in March to beating her to death with a motorcycle muffler pipe and to attempted sexual battery and drug charges. He was sentenced to life in prison.

The scholarship is a way to make some good out of grief, said Froeschle's father, Jeff Froeschle, a lawyer at the Bush Ross firm in Tampa.

"I feel better when I am working on this than most any other time," he said.

He said the fund will be used for scholarships in Florida State University's risk management, insurance, real estate and business law department.

Katrina Froeschle graduated from FSU with two bachelor's degrees, one in risk management/insurance and one in finance.

Florida Farm Bureau Insurance, the company Froeschle was working for when she was killed, made a $50,000 donation to the fund, which will provide $2,000 in scholarship money each year.

Froeschle's father said he hopes the fund will grow larger so it will "really help" those who receive it.

Donations to the Katrina Froeschle Memorial Scholarship fund can be made at www.foundation.fsu.edu Gifts must be designated for the fund when making the donation. Donors can also call Spencer Sealy at 850 644-0133.

--Brian White can be reached at bwhite@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 28, 2005, 01:45:13]