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Holmes, Freda Kathryn
Freda Kathryn Holmes, 97, formerly of Olin, died Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Hiawatha Care Center surrounded by her loving family. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 18 at Olin United Methodist Church followed by a burial in the Wyoming Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lahey Funeral Home in Olin, under the auspices of Brosh Chapel.
Freda was born Nov. 22, 1914 in rural Jones County, Hale Township, the daughter of Peter Christian and Mary A. (Holub) Levsen. She graduated from Olin High School and attended the University of Iowa. At U of I, she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. Freda married John A. Holmes on Jan. 10, 1934 in Tipton. Freda and John farmed for over 37 years in rural Jones County between Olin and Wyoming. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. Freda was involved with the Twentieth Century Club, Happy Hour Club, 4-H Club Leader, Bridge and 500 Club, and with the United Methodist Women for over 40 years. She was a homemaker and helped with farm work and she enjoyed baking dinner rolls, rye bread and Christmas Klutjons for her family, friends and church bake sales. Her hobbies included writing poetry, sewing, gardening and spending time with her family.
Freda is survived by daughter, Mary (Ron) Andrews of Birmingham, Ala.; son, Jerry (Diane) Holmes of Paris, Mo.; daughters, Jane (Don) Cox of Marion and Marty (Don) Berner of Mount Vernon; grandchildren, Kathy Andrews and David Andrews of Colorado, Alan Holmes (Allison) of Roswell, Ga., Christine (Terry) Brosh of Cape Coral, Fla., Dan (Teresa) Cox of Mount Vernon, Tammy (Brandon) Pitlik of Mount Vernon, Teresa (Luke) McDermott of Melbourne, Fla., Tosha (Daron) Rubner of Mount Vernon, Doug (Sarah) Berner of Lisbon, and Dustin Berner of Mount Vernon; 11 great-grandchildren; as well as nieces and nephews.
Freda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; a sister, Elsie Ballou; and a brother, Paul Levsen.
Freda's family would like to extend special thanks to the Hiawatha Care Center and Mercy Hospice for their special care and comfort.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Olin Methodist Church or to Camp Wyoming.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at .
Published April 17, 2012 in The Gazette
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