Helen Freund

Helen Dorothy Freund, 87, of Lewis, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, November 28, 2007, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.

Helen Dorothy Freund was born January 26, 1920, on a farm near Earling, Iowa, the daughter of John Peter and Ida E. (Schimerowski) Zimmer. She was raised and lived near Earling until she moved to Cass County following her marriage to Tony Freund, February 4, 1941, at St. Joseph's Church at Buck Grove, Iowa.

She was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic where she had served on the Altar and Rosary Society.

Helen was an active farm wife and homemaker. She was well-known for her homemade bread (big loaves!), cinnamon rolls, pies and more! She effortlessly cooked meals for her family and whoever else happened to stop by at mealtime.

She was always available to her grandchildren - whether it was for "overnight stays," quick snacks/meals, "taxi service" and more.

An avid reader, she kept up on religion, current events and could hold her own on "politics." Helen also taught her kids and grandkids about birds and their calls.

For Helen (and her late husband, Tony), it was all about family. While the "boys" stayed close to home, the "girls" moved out of state and she'd always say, "None of my girls live close to home anymore." And her "family" extended well beyond her own. We all remember that her door was always open.

Surviving Helen are her daughters, Joan Redler and her husband, Leroy, of Aurora, Colorado; Jean Gerschermann of Placerville, California; Sherry Stodolski and her husband, Neil, of Spearfish, South Dakota; Carole Lowe and her husband, George, of Aurora, Colorado; and Julia Freund of Denver, Colorado; her sons, Tony G. Freund, Jr. and his wife, Rhea, and Michael (Mike) Freund and his wife, Debbie, all of Lewis, Iowa; her daughters-in-law, Marilyn Freund of Atlantic, Iowa and Linda Freund-Ebbinga of Griswold, Iowa; 33 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; a sister, Delphine Molony of Harlan, Iowa; two brothers, Arthur Zimmer of Casey, Iowa and John (Bud) Zimmer of Dunlap, Iowa; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

Preceding Helen in death are her parents, John and Ida Zimmer; her husband, Tony; a daughter, Mary Lea Freund; two sons, Charles (Chuck) Freund and Jack Freund; a grandson, Mark Redler; a sister, Marie Freund; and a son-in-law, Heinz Gerschermann.

The Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 3, 2007, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic with Father Dan Siepker officiating.

A rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 2, followed by visitation with the family at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Committal service and interment will be in the Atlantic Catholic Cemetery.

A memorial is being established.
Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.