Bernice Freese

BERNICE FREESE

Monticello

Bernice Freese, 89, of Monticello, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at

Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, with interment in Wayne Zion Cemetery. The Rev. Robert Wessels will officiate at the services. Friends may call after noon at the church. The Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello, is caring for the family.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are two children, Vicki (Larry) Pavelec, Readlyn, and Kevin (Donna) Freese, Davenport; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Derek and Kristin Pavelec and daughter Annabel, Brett and Karalee Pavelec, Craig and Jamie Pavelec and son Jacob, Sean Freese, Ashley Freese and Cory Gamble and Victoria Willers; and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Brunscheen, Colorado Springs, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ted, in 2010; an infant brother; a brother, Edwin; and her sister, Eloise Westphal.

Bernice Alma Brunscheen was born May 18, 1925, near Oxford Mills in Jones County, Iowa, the daughter of Wilhelm and Frieda Gerberding Freese. She attended school in Tipton, Clarence and Wyoming. She graduated from the Wyoming High School with the class of 1944. She continued her education at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Bernice taught in the rural schools of Oxford Township in Jones County for six years and then fifth grade in Wyoming for two years. She married Theodore Freese on June 21, 1953, at Zion Lutheran Church in Wyoming. The couple farmed near Amber. Bernice did substitute teaching and worked as an underwriter for an insurance company in Cedar Rapids. She also was bookkeeper for Amber Mutual Creamery.

Her church was an important part of her life. Bernice was baptized June 14, 1925, at the Lutheran Church in Stanwood. She confirmed her faith on May 7, 1939, at Zion Lutheran Church in Wyoming. Bernice taught Sunday school for eight years in Wyoming and was the superintendent of Vacation Bible School at Wayne Zion for nine years. She served on the Harvest Festival committee, and for 6 1/2 years, Bernice organized the work groups for social activities at the church.

She served on the Jones County Election board for many years and headed fund drives for the American Cancer Society and the Heart Association in the Amber area as well.