FREESE, Harley 1920-2004

FREESE, MULLER, HAWN

Posted By: Karen D-J (email)
Date: 6/29/2006 at 22:03:26

WELLSBURG - Harley R. Freese, 83, of Wellsburg died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at Grundy County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care Unit in Grundy Center. Funeral services were Tuesday, March 16, at Wellsburg Reformed Church in Wellsburg. Burial was in the church cemetery with full military rites provided by Grundy Center American Legion Post No. 349 and AMVETS Post No. 17.

Harley was born April 22, 1920, in rural Grundy County to John and Mary (Muller) Freese. He was raised in Grundy County and educated at Colfax No. 5 rural country school. Harley worked as a farm hand before being drafted into the U.S. Army on Sept. 5, 1942. He was a special vehicle operator with the 369th Bomb Squad, and was involved in the battles and campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe and Air Offensive Europe. On April 13, 1943, he was united in marriage to Cleo Hawn in Riverside, Calif. On Nov. 21, 1945, Harley was honorably discharge after reaching the rank of sergeant. The couple returned to Wellsburg where Harley worked at several hardware stores, retiring from Cordes Hardware. Harley was a member of the Wellsburg Reformed Church, a life member of both the Grundy Center AMVETS Post No. 17 and Wellsburg AMVETS Post No. 91. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Survivors include three brothers, Clarence and wife Arvilla of Wellsburg, Wendo of Waterloo and Melvin of Grundy Center; one sister, Vaneda Doyen and husband Red of Wellsburg; and special friend, Elnora Nichols of Wellsburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and two brothers, Kenneth and Arnold.

Doyen-Abels Funeral home of Wellsburg was in charge of arrangements.

--Iowa Falls Times-Citizen Published March 18, 2004