Marilyn R. (Schroeder) Freese

Marilyn Rose Schroeder Freese, daughter of Edwin and Rosa Schroeder, was born January 8, 1931 in Beatrice Nebraska. On January 25th of that year she became a member of God’s Kingdom of Grace through the sacrament of Holy Baptism administered here at St. Paul’s by Pastor W. Baumann. After being instructed in the truths of God’s Word, she publically confessed her faith and was confirmed by Pastor Alvin Degner here at St. Paul’s in 1944.

Marilyn grew up and lived her entire life in the rural Plymouth area. She graduated from Plymouth High School in 1948. She attended Fairbury Junior College that summer and began her teaching career that fall, teaching at Hoag’s one room country school. Initially Marilyn did not like teaching and wanted to quit. Thankfully, her mother made her complete the first semester because working with young children became her passion in life. Marilyn attended Fairbury Junior College and the University of Nebraska until she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from the University in August of 1973.

On November 14, 1954, she was joined in holy matrimony to John “Richard” Freese by Pastor Hilbert Schaller. They lived on their family farm one mile north of Plymouth until October of 2000 when Richard retired and they moved into Plymouth. The Lord blessed this marriage with three sons and two daughters.

Marilyn was a faithful, lifelong, member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Plymouth. She was an active member of their Ladies Aid, played the organ, sang in choir, and served as a Sunday school teacher. Marilyn operated a preschool in her home for a short time and taught in various elementary schools for 26 years. Besides teaching in Hoag she taught in Plymouth, Jansen, and Fairbury. Her last 10 years of teaching were at St. Paul’s Lutheran School. She retired from teaching in 1989 but she continued to substitute and tutor for many more years.

Marilyn was also an active member of her community. She belonged to the teacher’s sorority Alpha Delta Kappa and NSEA – Nebraska State Education Association. She was a member of the Plymouth Extension Club, American Legion Auxiliary, a 4-H leader, and she and Richard were foster parents. Marilyn’s other passion in life was gardening, especially loving to care for her roses. Due to health reasons, Marilyn has been living in nursing homes since 2010 and regularly received the Lord’s Supper privately for the assurance of the forgiveness of her sins.

The Lord called her out of this life to eternal life with Him on  Saturday, October 7, 2017 at the age of 86.. She is preceded in death by her husband Richard in 2009, one grandson, Seth Worster, and her sister Marlene Scheele.

She leaves to mourn her passing: her beloved children; three sons, John and wife Marilynn, Steve and wife Stacey, Pastor Stuart and wife Debra; two daughters, Jane Raugutt and husband Dale, and Tresa Worster and husband Tom; her beloved grandchildren, Richard and Rebecca Freese, Pastor Patrick Freese and wife Sarah, Nathan Raugutt and wife Juree, Rebekah Rutar and husband Trevor, Brett Freese and wife Keshea, Erica Wiedel and husband Andrew, Grant Freese, Alicia and Caleb Freese, Noah, Faith and Lukas Worster; two step grandchildren, Christina and Bailey Worster; and her 9 great-grandchildren Eliott  and Corinne Freese, Torrey and Grayson Raugutt, Rilynne, Tyler and Tanner Rutar, Blaire Freese, and Elenor Freese; brothers and sisters-in-law Wayne and Elaine Schroeder, Allen and Elaine Schroeder, and Gail and Sharon Schroeder; her and Richard’s numerous God children, nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord! KJV

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Plymouth with Pastor Fred Berger officiating. Burial will be in the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery of Plymouth, NE.  A family prayer service will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. in the fellowship room of the church.  A memorial has been established with the church elders in charge.  The body will lie in state at the Harman-Wright Mortuary of Plymouth  Tuesday  from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and then on Wednesday one hour preceding the services at church.  A guestbook for signatures and messages of condolence is available online at www.harmanwrightmortuary.com  . Harman-Wright Mortuary of Plymouth in charge of arrangements. 

 Service Information