John "Richard" Freese was born June 1, 1925 in rural Plymouth to John and Adela (Meyer) Freese. He was baptized on June 14, 1925 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plymouth and was also confirmed at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church in Plymouth in 1939. He attended Plymouth High School where he graduated in 1943. After high school he farmed with his family in rural Plymouth. He was drafted into the Army at Ft. Leavenworth, KS on August 11, 1945; he served in a military hospital during WWII in Munich, Germany, and was discharged from the Army at Ft. Sheridan, IL on January 29, 1947. He also received his pilot license in 1947. He married Marilyn (Schroeder) on November 14, 1954. Five children were born to this union. He's been a life-long member of St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church in Plymouth, where he served as a past church elder for 12 years, as well as church treasurer. He served as past president of the Jefferson County Farmer's Union, served on the Plymouth Fire and Rescue board, and was a member of the American Legion, Schopp-Ewing-Nispel Post 243. He was an avid promoter of Christian education, and was a founding board member of Nebraska Lutheran High School in Waco, NE, where he served on the board for 14 years. He and his wife also opened their home to foster children for a time. He enjoyed traveling to visit his children and family members, and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He farmed north of Plymouth all his life until retiring and moving to Plymouth in 2000. Due to health reasons, he has been living in nursing homes since 2003. He was called to life eternal on January 9, 2009 at Parkview Care Center in Beatrice.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Plymouth; son, John and his wife Marilynn, and their sons, Richard and Patrick of Milwaukee, WI; daughter, Jane Raugutt and her husband Dale, and their children, Nathan and Rebekah of Casper, WY; son, Steven and his wife Stacey, and their children Brett, Erica, and Grant of Plymouth; son Stuart and his wife Debra, and their children Alicia and Caleb of Weston, NE; and daughter, Tresa Worster and her husband Tom, and their children Noah, Faith, and Lukas of Plymouth, along with step grandchildren, Christina and Bailey Worster of Lincoln; Sisters and Brothers, Pauline Miller of Seattle, WA, Hilda Stahly of Milford, NE, Leon Freese and wife Alida of Plymouth, Betty Kindsvater of Milford, NE, Robert Freese and wife C.J. of Fairbury, and Gordon Freese and wife Maril of Lincoln. He also has many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Allen, Alvin, and Bernard; grandson, Seth Worster; brothers-in-law, Jack Kindsvater, Frank Stahly, and Harold Miller; and sister-in-law Maxine Freese.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Plymouth with Pastor John Bortulin 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 to the church with the church elders in charge. The body will lie in state at the Harman-Wright Mortuary of Plymouth Monday from 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. and 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 arrangement.
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