FREESE, Willard C. (1925-2022)

FREESE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/30/2023 at 14:16:22

Willard Carl Freese
(April 25, 1925 - September 16, 2022)

Willard Carl Freese was born on April 25, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents Sylvia Hall Freese, a native of Bondurant, Iowa, and Carl Freese, a native of Chicago. Carl was drafted and was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa for military training for WWI, prior to serving in France as an ambulance driver with horses. A mutual friend introduced Sylvia and Carl while he was training at Camp Dodge. After their marriage, they made their home in Chicago where Carl worked for Western Electric. Carl thought he would enjoy country life and the family moved to Iowa to begin farming. They never regretted that decision. Willard was an only child. His parents brought Edward Jones, a disadvantaged boy, into their home. The boys were in boy scouts together. They never forgot using baking soda instead of baking powder while making biscuits at camp. No ribbons were earned that morning. The boys rode the train from Norwalk to Martensdale for confirmation in the Lutheran church. They remained best of friends as adults.
Willard loved traveling with his parents as a child. He remembered staying with his Grandma Freese in Chicago and visiting the Chicago World’s Fair in 1934. While at the fair, his mother lost her purse. Someone who was honest found it and she was able to retrieve it. The family also enjoyed another trip with friends to see the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939. Willard took pride in being a farmer. He mentioned many times the enjoyment he felt after his animals were bedded down on a cold winter night and seeing and hearing their contentment. He liked buying young steers from the Western states and feeding them to sell at the market in Chicago. One of his nephews described Willard fittingly as both a farmer and a gentleman. It’s an apt characterization for someone who always had a good word to say about others. Willard loved to dance. He and others helped the dance instructor teach dancing in the Tromar Ballroom in Des Moines before doors opened. It was at the Tromar where Willard met his wife, Shirley Hamilton. They were each dating someone else at the time. Willard and Shirley both loved big band music and visited other ballrooms to hear their favorite bands. Willard was a veteran of the Korean War serving with the 24th Medical Battalion. He earned two campaign/battle stars for his service. Willard and Shirley were married August 10, 1952, in Barnes City, Iowa. They went to Colorado for their honeymoon and traveled in style in their pride and joy, a new 1952 Ford hardtop. The family was active in the Norwalk United Methodist Church. Willard took his turns serving as treasurer for the church. He also was on the committee planning for the current church. When the new site was selected from the previous downtown location on North Avenue, many people were unhappy because they felt the new site was too “far out in the country.” Willard and Shirley took the family on many trips from coast to coast. One was a three-week trip to the west coast including seeing the space needle at the Seattle World’s Fair. Several trips were to historic sites. These trips were enjoyed until Jim thought he was too big to travel with his parents, unless a ballgame was involved. Later, Willard and Shirley enjoyed out-of-state tours by themselves or with their special long-time friends. Willard loved everything about Chicago, his hometown, especially his beloved Chicago Cubs. One of the highlights of his life was watching them finally win the World Series. One of Willard’s great pleasures was having early morning coffee with the “boys at McDonald’s.” He missed the companionship when he could no longer attend. Willard was confirmed in the Lutheran church in Martensdale, Iowa, and joined the Norwalk United Methodist Church after his children were born. He was a member of the Norwalk Masonic Lodge and the American Legion of Cumming.
Willard dearly loved his family and they dearly loved him. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of 70 years; children, Jim (Vicki), West Des Moines, Janet (Jim) Obley, Norwalk; grandchildren, Laura (Cale) Rizer, Norwalk, Krista (Britt) Westman, San Diego, California, Kelly Obley, Maryville, Missouri, Daniel Obley, Norwalk, Matthew (Taniqua) Freese, Crystal, Minnesota, Jennifer (Jake) Moskwa, Rosemount, Minnesota; great grandchildren, Autumn Westman, Andi Westman, Cameron Rizer, and twins Crew and Kobe Rizer. A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, September 22, 2022 at the Norwalk United Methodist Church. The family will be present to greet friends from 9 to 11 a.m., Thursday prior to services. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given, in Willard’s memory, to his church or the Salvation Army in Des Moines.