Pedersen, Velma Frees (1926-2012)

PEDERSEN, OHL, LANE, SCHEURING, MORAN, KUEHNHOLD, KENKEL, ECKERMAN, FREES, BUELTEL, TRUMPH, ESSLER, HARM, LANE, HANSEN, MUHLBAUER, OHDENDAHL

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 3/12/2012 at 18:23:20

Submitted by Marthann Kohl, posted by permission

Published in Denison Bulletin/Review from February 16, 2012

Velma Frees Pedersen, 85 of Denison, died Tuesday, February 14, in Omaha, Nebraska.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 17, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison with burial at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery in Denison.

Visitation with Rosary and Parish Vigil are from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, at the Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison, which is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include four children, Judy Frees of Omaha, Nebraska, Gene Frees of LaVista, Nebraska, and Joan Harm and Jodi Ohl, both of Denison; five step-children, Gladys Lane, Ray Pedersen, Norman Pedersen, Leslie Pedersen, and Steve Pedersen, all of Council Bluffs; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and six siblings, Theresa Scheuring of Defiance, Leona Moran of Honey Creek, JoAnn Kuehnhold of Denison, Joe Kenkel of West Point, Nebraska, and Ted Kenkel and Ray Kenkel, both of Council Bluffs.

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Source: pfannebecker.com

Velma C. Pedersen
Born: 12/8/1926
Died: 2/14/2012

Services: 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 17, 2012 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa

Visitation: 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m, Thursday, February 16, 2012 at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa. Rosary at 6:00 p.m. and Parish Vigil at 7:30 p.m.

Memorials: Donor Choice

Cemetery: St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, Denison, Iowa

Velma Frees Pedersen was born at Earling, Iowa, December 8, 1926, the daughter of Theodore and Clara Eckerman Kenkel. As an infant she moved with her family to a farm at Defiance, Iowa, where she was raised. She received her education at St. Paul’s Catholic School at Defiance, graduating with the class of 1944. Following high school she attended college in Atchison, Kansas, where she received her teaching credentials and taught in the rural schools in Shelby County.

In August of 1949, Velma was united in marriage with Henry Frees at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Definace, Iowa. They made their home on a farm near Irwin, Iowa, and their union was blessed with four children: Judy, Joan, Gene and Jodi. They moved to Denison in 1968 and Henry died in January of 1986.

After the death of her husband Velma worked by taking care of the sick and elderly in their homes. She also was employed at Denison Care Center, Hy-Vee and Second Best Consignments.

On February 11, 1992, Velma was united in marriage with Les Pedersen at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison and they made their home in Denison. Les died May 2, 2003.

Velma’s last job began in 2001 with Wesco Industries caring for their clients from which she retired after 9 years in 2010.

In her spare time Velma enjoyed going to the casinos, playing cards, reading and working picture puzzles. She loved spending time with her family and greatly enjoyed dancing with her husbands and following the Whiskey River Band. Velma overcame the greatest obstacle of her life on November 1, 1979 when she started a life of sobriety.

She was an active member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison where she was an usher, lector, member of the Ladies Guild and taught CCD Religious classes for three years.

Surrounded by her loving family, Velma died at the home of her daughter, Judy Frees, in Omaha, Nebraska, Tuesday evening, February 14, 2012. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 85 years, 2 months and 6 days.

Including her parents, Theodore and Clara Kenkel, and her two husbands, Henry Frees and Les Pedersen, Velma was also preceded in death by one brother: Mark Kenkel; two sisters: Marie Bueltel and Clarice Hansen; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Bernadine Kenkel, Evelyn Kenkel, Austin Scheuring, Donald Kuehnhold, Margaret and Frank Trumph, Joe Muhlbuaer and Gary Essler.

Those remaining to cherish her memory include four children: Judy Frees and fiancé, Ray of Omaha, Nebraska, Joan Harm of Denison, Iowa, Gene Frees of LaVista, Nebraska, and Jodi and husband, Mark Ohl of Denison, Iowa; five step-children: Gladys and husband, Ken Lane, Ray Pedersen and fiancé, Judy, Norman Pedersen and wife, Sandy, Leslie Pedersen and wife, Pat and Steve Pedersen all of Council Bluffs, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Tonny, Tonnie, Brian, Tabby and fiancé, Derek, Ryan and girlfriend, April, Austin, Jessy and girlfriend, Maggie and Quincy and girlfriend, Shelby; six great grandchildren: Serena, Zoey, Taylor, Kole, Madalyn and Samantha; six siblings: Ray Kenkel of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Theresa Scheuring of Defiance, Iowa, Leona and husband, Joe Moran of Honey Creek, Iowa, Ted Kenkel and wife, Judy of Council Bluffs, Iowa, JoAnn Kuehnhold of Denison, Iowa, and Joe Kenkel and wife, Alice of West Point, Nebraska; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Virgil Bueltel of Manning, Iowa, Fred Hansen of Waterloo, Iowa, John and Margaret Frees of Manning, Iowa, Erna (Muhlbauer) Ohdendahl of Manning, Iowa, and Lillie Esser of Chicago, Illinois, numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 17, 2012, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa, with Father Paul Kelly as Celebrant. Others participating in the mass included Servers: Taylor Towne and Cory Miller; Lector: Jessy Ohl; Gift Bearers: Quincy Ohl, Ryan Frees and Austin Frees; and Eucharistic Ministers: Joe Moran, Craig Moran and JoEtt Cogdill. Music for the mass was provided by EveVonne Muff singing “One Day At A Time” and “Ave Maria” and St. Rose of Lima Adult Choir singing, “In The Garden”, “Here I Am Lord” and “How Great Thou Art” with Judy Thams serving as accompanist. Those serving as pallbearers were Velma’s grandchildren: Tonny Pedersen, Tonnie Zezulak, Brian Harm, Tabitha Towne, Ryan Frees, Austin Frees, Jessy Ohl and Quincy Ohl. Interment was at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery in Denison, Iowa. Following the interment the family invited everyone to return to the Parish Center and join them for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by St. Rose of Lima Ladies Guild. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, pfannebecker.com, Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements where on Thursday, February 16, 2012, a Rosary,