Julia Mae Fredericksen

Julia Mae Fredericksen, the daughter of Arley and June Swart Olsen, was born March 19, 1939, in rural Cass County near Atlantic, Iowa and died March 8, 2011, at her home in Exira, Iowa at the age of 71 years, 11 months, and 19 days.
Julia was baptized at the Methodist Church in Carroll, Iowa. She attended Carroll Public Schools then graduated in 1958 from the High School in Westside, Iowa.
On November 8, 1958, she was united in marriage to Donald L. Fredericksen in Vail, Iowa. Five children were born to this union. Following the wedding they returned to California where Donald had been living and working. They lived in and around the Los Angeles area. Julia was employed at the Parker Pen Company for a short time, then worked as a baby sitter. In 1963 they returned to Iowa and lived on a farm southwest of Audubon, Iowa. Later they purchased a farm from Donalds father northwest of Exira. During this time Julia was a home maker taking care of Donald and raising their children. In 1981 they sold the farm and moved into Exira. Julia was employed as a cook at the Red Barn Restaurant in Exira for several years. She then worked briefly at the Care Center in Exira. She started working for Caseys General Store in Exira. She first was a cashier and for the next 25 years a full time pizza maker, who loved her job, co-workers and customers. Also during this time she enjoyed selling Avon products. In the fall of 2009 she was forced to retire due to her failing health.
Julia was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. She enjoyed playing computer bingo and surfing the web. Julia loved to go on daytime adventures with her daughters and enjoyed occasional Windstar bus trips to the casinos. Julia was a wonderful cook, amazing her family with delicious meals from the simplest of ingredients. She was an avid hummingbird watcher from her kitchen windows, waiting and watching each season for Ringneck and the others to return. Also from the kitchen window she kept a watchful eye on the kids at recess. But most of all she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Julia was preceded in death by her son Don Ray (Shorty) and wife Lawonna Fredericksen; her parents; her brother Bill Olsen; her sister-in-law and brothers-in-law Virginia and husband Norman Nelsen, Verner Fredericksen, Jr., John Fredericksen, and Dayle Wahlert.
Survivors include her husband Donald L. Fredericksen of Exira, Iowa; her children Denise Phippen and Curt Mardesen of Exira, Kelly and husband Jim Schwarte of Elk Horn, Iowa, Lisa and husband Neal Meseck of Exira, and Mitchall Fredericksen of Exira; her grandchildren Nathan Phippen of Exira, Tyler Phippen of Adair, Iowa, Tony Phippen of Des Moines, Iowa, Daniel Fredericksen, Randy Fredericksen, Joe Fredericksen, Mark Fredericksen, David Fredericksen , Brandon Fredericksen all of Atlantic, Iowa, Rachel and husband Jarred Johnson of Kimballton, Iowa, Sara Schwarte of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Emily Schwarte of Denison, Iowa, Cody Fredericksen of Exira, Emma Fredericksen and Ian Fredericksen both of Creston, Iowa, her great grandchildren Davin, Ian, Serenity, Nevaeh, Madison and Isabella; her brothers and sisters Linda and husband Elmer Venteicher of Carroll, Iowa, Alice and husband Tom Maron of Aurora, Colorado, Frank and wife Beth Olsen of Exira, Tom and wife MargieOlsen and Margo Murrayall of Almonte, California, Lois Kruger of Glendale, Arizona, Ken Olsen of Newton, Iowa; her sisters-in-law Marsha Prigge of Audubon, Iowa, Marcelyn Fredericksen of Hamlin, Iowa, Ramona Fredericksen of Sun City, California; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Friday evening March 11, 2011, at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa.