1922
Clarence
2016
Clarence Freese
December 31, 1922 — December 15, 2016
Clarence C. Freese, 93, of Wellsburg, Iowa, passed away on December 15, 2016 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2016 at the Wellsburg Reformed Church in Wellsburg, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at the Wellsburg Reformed Church and burial will follow at the church cemetery with military honors conducted by the Grundy Center American Legion Post #349 and AMVETS 17. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Clarence was born on December 31, 1922 in Shiloh Township, rural Grundy County, Iowa, the son of John and Mary (Muller) Freese. Clarence was raised in Grundy County and educated at Cooper, Fern and Colfax # 5 rural country schools. Clarence's mother, Mary died on May 10, 1928, and his father, John, later married Grace Weichers. After finishing school, Clarence worked for Conrad Weichers, hauling gravel and as a hired farm hand for Henry Primus.
On September 1, 1942, Clarence enlisted in the United States Navy. He was an airplane engine mechanic and served aboard the U.S.S. Essex Aircraft Carrier for 33 months during the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign of World War II.
Clarence was united in marriage to Arvilla Bernice Meyer on January 22, 1948, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. After their wedding they lived in Patuxent River, Maryland, until he received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy as a 2nd Class Aviation Mechanic. Upon their return to Iowa, Clarence and Arvilla lived in Wellsburg, where he worked for Fleesner Implement and then began farming. In 1968, Clarence attended Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason, City. In 1986, he retired from farming. He then worked for Potgeter Elevator, helped several farmers and continued as an auctioneer until 2011. Clarence's wife Arvilla, died on May 9, 2005.
Clarence was a proud member of the Grundy Center AMVETS Post # 17 and Wellsburg AMVETS Post # 91, a 70-year member of the Wellsburg American Legion Post # 213, the Wellsburg Community Club, Jolly Boys, he played softball with the Wellsburg town-team for many years and was an original member of the 30-Plus softball team. Clarence was an avid baseball fan, loved playing cards with his many friends and spending time with his family.
Clarence is survived by his daughter Sherry (Stan) Caldwell of Steamboat Rock, IA; his sons Mike (Cindy) Freese of Grundy Center, IA and John Freese (his friend Susie Simon) of Grundy Center, IA; his four grandchildren, Eric (Becky) Caldwell of Pekin, IL, Chris Caldwell of Wellsburg, IA, Jon (Staci) Freese of Grundy Center, IA and Sara (Lance) Moeller of Grundy Center, IA; two great-granddaughters Rylee and Raegan Caldwell; one great-grandson Mason Thede; two step-great-granddaughters Kiley and Samantha Meyers; one brother, Wendo Freese of Waterloo, IA; one sister, Vaneda Doyen of Wellsburg, IA and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents John Freese, Mary Freese and Grace Freese; his wife Arvilla Freese; and his brothers Harley, Melvin, Kenneth and Arnold Freese.
Clarence was born on December 31, 1922 in Shiloh Township, rural Grundy County, Iowa, the son of John and Mary (Muller) Freese. Clarence was raised in Grundy County and educated at Cooper, Fern and Colfax # 5 rural country schools. Clarence's mother, Mary died on May 10, 1928, and his father, John, later married Grace Weichers. After finishing school, Clarence worked for Conrad Weichers, hauling gravel and as a hired farm hand for Henry Primus.
On September 1, 1942, Clarence enlisted in the United States Navy. He was an airplane engine mechanic and served aboard the U.S.S. Essex Aircraft Carrier for 33 months during the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign of World War II.
Clarence was united in marriage to Arvilla Bernice Meyer on January 22, 1948, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. After their wedding they lived in Patuxent River, Maryland, until he received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy as a 2nd Class Aviation Mechanic. Upon their return to Iowa, Clarence and Arvilla lived in Wellsburg, where he worked for Fleesner Implement and then began farming. In 1968, Clarence attended Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason, City. In 1986, he retired from farming. He then worked for Potgeter Elevator, helped several farmers and continued as an auctioneer until 2011. Clarence's wife Arvilla, died on May 9, 2005.
Clarence was a proud member of the Grundy Center AMVETS Post # 17 and Wellsburg AMVETS Post # 91, a 70-year member of the Wellsburg American Legion Post # 213, the Wellsburg Community Club, Jolly Boys, he played softball with the Wellsburg town-team for many years and was an original member of the 30-Plus softball team. Clarence was an avid baseball fan, loved playing cards with his many friends and spending time with his family.
Clarence is survived by his daughter Sherry (Stan) Caldwell of Steamboat Rock, IA; his sons Mike (Cindy) Freese of Grundy Center, IA and John Freese (his friend Susie Simon) of Grundy Center, IA; his four grandchildren, Eric (Becky) Caldwell of Pekin, IL, Chris Caldwell of Wellsburg, IA, Jon (Staci) Freese of Grundy Center, IA and Sara (Lance) Moeller of Grundy Center, IA; two great-granddaughters Rylee and Raegan Caldwell; one great-grandson Mason Thede; two step-great-granddaughters Kiley and Samantha Meyers; one brother, Wendo Freese of Waterloo, IA; one sister, Vaneda Doyen of Wellsburg, IA and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents John Freese, Mary Freese and Grace Freese; his wife Arvilla Freese; and his brothers Harley, Melvin, Kenneth and Arnold Freese.
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