Bonnie Freese

Bonnie Jean Freese, 76, of Reinbeck, passed away from cancer on October 21, 2018 at home,  with her family by her side while under the care of Unity Point Hospice. A visitation will be held Wednesday, October 24, from 5-8 PM at French-Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck. A funeral service will be held Thursday, October 25, at Open Bible Church in Waterloo at 12 PM with interment to follow at the Reinbeck City Cemetery in Reinbeck. Visitation will resume at the church from the evening prior at 11 AM. Online condolences may be made at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com French-Hand Funeral Home is taking care of Bonnie and her family.

Bonnie Jean Freese was born on July 23, 1942 in Black Hawk County, the daughter of Herman and Neva (Bohlen) Ullrich. She attended Hawthorne, McKinestry, and then graduated from East High School in 1960. While attending East High, she taught dance in the swing show for 3 years, going to Chicago after graduating to dance. Bonnie was a member of the Chicago National Dance Masters for several years, and she also owned her own dance studio for several years. Bonnie was united in marriage on March 26, 1961 to Harold Freese. They resided near Cedar Falls, later moving to rural Holland in 1967 to start farming, living there for 6 years. Bonnie and Harold then moved to rural Reinbeck where they farmed for 17 years. They bought the home acreage and lived there for 45 years. While living on the farm they were blessed with five children, Todd, Randy, Wade, Russell, and Angie.

Bonnie was a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a Christian woman and accepted Christ as her savior on Oct 17, 1965 and received the Holy Spirit on May 21, 1966. Bonnie loved life, and her three favorite things were the sky, trees, and a horse running. Bonnie loved children and they loved her back. She would always give them candy on Sunday but she had to get a hug first before giving out the candy. To many children, Bonnie was their grandma. She was a very positive person in all of hers and Harold’s marriage, she never said “I can’t”, there was always a way. Bonnie enjoyed people and working with her flower garden, especially loved digging in the soil to plant the flowers. Her favorite place was sitting on her deck or under her tunnel arbor. Bonnie started a prayer chain and a food box ministry, loving the lord with her whole heart.

Bonnie is survived by her loving husband Harold Freese; children Randy (Nancy) Freese of Reinbeck, Wade ( Shelley) Freese of Reinbeck, Russell (Julie) Freese of Cedar Falls and Angie (Luis) Lobo of Palm Beach, FL; 10 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and son Todd