Jacqueline “Anne” (Ward) Freese

Jacqueline “Anne” (Ward) Freese

Waterloo

Jacqueline “Anne” (Ward) Freese. Age 83. Anne passed from a heart attack very quickly and without suffering. Anne was born to Mary and “Jack” Ward in Cedar Rapids on January 8, 1941. She was raised on the family farm south of Clarence, went to college in Cedar Rapids, and, after marriage, lived in Dubuque until they moved to Waterloo in 1977. She married Fred Freese on December 28, 1963 in a double wedding ceremony with her twin sister Kay. Family lore has it that Fred, at the ripe age of 8, came skipping home from school singing about “Jacqueline Anne Ward”. So married since 1963 but together since third grade. They had three children: Therese, Michelle, and Bradley. Her family was her everything and we always knew we were loved beyond measure.

Anne graduated from Clarence High School (salutatorian) in 1959, graduated from Mount Mercy College (summa cum laude) in 1963 with Home Economics and Elementary Teaching degrees. She taught first grade in Vinton, IA, in the ‘63/’64 school year and taught 4th grade in Dubuque, IA, the first semester of the ‘64/’65 school year. Anne wanted to be a mom more than anything else and became a fulltime mother and home maker. She kept her teaching degree current and, later on, did some substitute teaching. Her focus was always on her family, her friends, and her faith. She was welcoming, a friend to all, and constantly striving to do better for the world around her.

Anne had a lifelong love of music. She played piano, played a saxophone in high school and sang in the high school chorus. While they lived in Dubuque, she cantored at Mass at St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church and played guitar with a church group. When they moved to Waterloo, she cantored at Mass and sang in the Resurrection Choir at St Edward’s Catholic Church. She also loved singing with the Metropolitan Chorale for many years. She has passed this passion for music and giving to her children and, more recently, her grandchildren.

Anne loved to read and play games with her grandkids and would drop anything to spend this precious time with them. Her twin grandkids in Waukee said to “make sure and tell everyone she also liked to play UNO and other card games with us.” There were many awesome nights of board games and card games with loads of fun and laughter, always with some delicious desert she made for all the family. Anne was a longtime supporter and listener of Public Radio; the radio was almost always on in the house. She was an avid environmentalist and bird watcher, and has long been a supporter of causes in her community: League of Women Voters, Parent Teacher Organizations, local food banks, National and local parks, Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony, Community Theatre, Waterloo and Cedar Falls band concerts, was a hospital volunteer and supported numerous other community service organizations. Anne’s true love was her family and she loved to bake “Grandma cookies” and always had some for her grandkids – even sending gift boxes off to our one college age grandchild. She loved her family and always kept a clean and organized home. It helped being married to an engineer!

Anne is survived by her husband Fred, daughters Therese (David) Ostermann, Michelle (Jim) Byard and son Bradley (Lena) Freese. Grandchildren Nathan and Danielle Ostermann, Eleanor, Benjamin and twin boys Alexander and Matthew Freese. She is also survived by her siblings Clem (Mimi) Ward, John Ward, Kevin (Norma) Ward, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Mary Ward, and her twin sister Mary Katherine “Kay” Ward.

Memorial donations may be directed to St, Edward’s Catholic Church (sted.org), Iowa Public Radio (iowapublicradio.org), The Metropolitan Chorale (met-chorale.org), or a charity of your choice. For those who would be interested in donating their bodies to medical education, from our experience, be aware you need to personally authorize in advance of your passing and we recommend contacting the University of Iowa or your local medical University to begin this process.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 28, at St. Edward Catholic Church, Waterloo, with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mechanicsville. There will be a 3:30 p.m. Rosary on Friday, December 27, at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway. Visitation will take place from 4-7 p.m. Friday where there will be a 6:30 p.m. Vigil Service. Visitation also one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday at the church. The Mass will be livestreamed on the parish website www.sted.org.

Online condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.