Frieda Mae Howe

Frieda Mae Howe

Central City

Frieda Mae Howe, 86, of Central City, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Marion, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City. Memorial service to follow at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at a later date at Mount Clark Cemetery in Central City.

Frieda was born on March 31, 1937, in Marion, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Deborah (Kearns) Nesetril. She was a 1955 graduate of Marion High School. On June 5, 1955, Frieda was united in marriage to Arlen Ray Howe at Marion Methodist Church in Marion.

Throughout her life, Frieda was passionate about children and volunteered countless hours to give back to her community. She established the learn to swim program in Central City and taught numerous children (and adults) how to swim. Over the years, she mentored adolescents while working at HACAP and supported students and teachers as a paraprofessional at Central City Schools. Similarly, Frieda was the director of several childcare centers in Central City and Marion. With her unyielding drive, she wrote grants and coordinated with the school to institute the ABC Childcare Center.

Just like an “Energizer Bunny”, she didn’t let anything slow her down. When she wasn’t tending to her garden, she enjoyed her many hobbies such as making rugs and candles, handwriting analysis, playing cards with her Card Club, and sharing her love of books with her grand and great-grandchildren.

Frieda is survived and lovingly remembered by her children, Jeanne Howe, Mark (Joyce) Howe and Dona (Charlie Braun) Howe; grandchildren, Seth (Alyssa) Rosendahl, Rich (Sheri) Rosendahl, Hollyanne Collins, Paige Howe and Beatrice Braun; great-grandchildren, Hayley, Ethan, Laila, Hendrix, Matthew, Sammie, Brycen, Hunter and three bonus great-grandchildren; her siblings, Margaret Jasa, and Karen (Dave) Hindenach; and many nieces and nephews. Frieda will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arlen, in 2018; daughter, Holly Howe-Burgess; great-granddaughter, Mikaela Collins; sister, Judy Knotts; and brother, Frederick Nesetril.

Memorials in Frieda’s memory may be directed to The J.C. Clegg Fund at the Central City Public Library.

The family would like to thank Mercy Hospice for their compassion and care of Frieda. A special thank you to Jennifer Clark, NP and Dr. Vijaya Gogineni, MD for their expertise and commitment to their patients.

Please share a memory of Frieda at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.