FREET, Barbara Ann (Johnson) 1940-2016

JOHNSON, FREET, CARD, PETERSON

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 5/8/2017 at 09:48:23

Services:
Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Kearns Funeral Service Kimball Chapel.

Visitation:
Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Kearns Funeral Service Kimball Chapel as well as one hour prior to the services Wednesday.

Cemetery:
Garden of Memories Cemetery, Waterloo

Memorials:
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Norwegian American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library, 415 W. Main Street, Madison, WI 53703 or to the family for distribution to causes close to Barb’s heart.

Biography--

Barbara Ann Johnson was born on April 20, 1940 at Decorah Hospital, Decorah, Iowa. She was the first child born to Truman William and Alice Viola Peterson Johnson, both of whom were proud, sturdy Norwegians. Eventually, the family moved to Cresco, Iowa, where she began her earliest education.

When her father obtained employment at Rath Packing Company in Waterloo, Barb moved with him to the Waterloo area. The family eventually reunited and they settled in Evansdale, Iowa. She attended Waterloo schools during elementary, junior high and high school and was a proud member of the Waterloo East High Class of 1958, and participated in band and newspaper/yearbook. Barb attended Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, and prided herself on being a lifelong learner.

She was a single mother during the 1960’s and worked nights at the Evansdale Enterprise to support her small family. Eventually, Barb saved enough money to purchase the Evansdale Enterprise newspaper, and became the owner, editor and publisher of the weekly journal.

After being introduced by mutual friends, Barb married the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Freet on December 1, 1972, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Evansdale, Iowa. He preceded her in death on December 24, 2006.

Those who knew Barb knew of her commitment to community service. She participated in planning for the Evansdale “Whoopie Days” of the 1970’s, and was also part of the early Gilbertville Days Committee. She served as Gilbertville’s water treatment operator in the 1980’s and was a member of the Gilbertville First Responders. She also served the community of La Porte City as an EMT-D on the La Porte City Ambulance Service. During Dick’s years at John Deere, the couple also were members of the Rec Committee and volunteered for many events at the UAW Hall.

Perhaps she has been most well known for her 22 years of service as Black Hawk County Treasurer, first elected in 1988. Formerly a planner and grant writer for the Iowa Northland Regional County of Governments and former Evansdale community development director, Barb prevailed to become the first woman ever elected to serve as Black Hawk County's treasurer.

During her tenure as Treasurer, Barb won an Innovation Award from the Iowa State Association of Counties in 2000 for the development of the Crossroads Center Treasurer’s Satellite Office, which she opened in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation. She also worked to develop a centralized purchasing system for Black Hawk County as a cost saving measure.

Further, she was very active in the Iowa State Association of County Treasurers, serving as President of the District Six Treasurers. She was also part of the team that developed a state-wide property tax and vehicle licensing website.

During the years she served as Treasurer, Barb and Dick fulfilled a life-long dream of cattle farming, and took pride in raising their beloved Texas Longhorn cattle. The couple became active in the Texas Longhorn community, and Barb was appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Texas Longhorn Association. She and Dick were founding members of the Midwest Longhorn Association.

Those who knew Barb also know that she was passionate about genealogy. What started as a quest to find family that her immigrant grandparents had left in Norway continued into a life-long hobby to trace her lineage. While she never was able to visit her family’s ancestral farm in Norway, she established and maintained communication with several cousins in the native land. She was proud of her heritage, and she honored her Norwegian heritage through her memberships in Sons of Norway, Vesterheim, the Norwegian American Historical Association, and the Norwegian American Genealogical Library and Naeseth Library. She shared her love of genealogy with her children, and was joyfully anticipating teaching her granddaughter all about her heritage.

Barb was truly an exceptional woman, and her accomplishments were so much more than what is listed in this short summary. She was an accomplished entrepreneur, business woman, friend, sister and mother.

In addition to her beloved husband, Barb was preceded in death by her parents; mother and father-in-law Dorothy and Albert (Sam) Freet; three brothers-in-law: Stan Card, James (Jim) Freet, and John Freet.

Leaving to mourn her passing are her children: Susan and Al Hughes of Marion, Blair and Pam Freet of Tipton, Jodi Freet of Solon, and Eric and Sarah Freet of Richardson, Texas. She also is survived by her adored granddaughter, Wilhelmina Freet. Other survivors include her sister, Carmen Card of Cedar Rapids; in-laws, Donald and Linda Freet of Gilbertville and Lorraine Freet of Cedar Falls; aunt Grace Peterson of Clear Lake, Iowa; many nieces, nephews and cousins, including special cousin Alice (Duane) Ruffridge, Decorah.

Source: Kearns Funeral Service website