Frieda M. Beenken, 89, of Grundy Center, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care Unit while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 14th at 10:30 A.M. at the American Lutheran Church with Pastor Luther Thoresen officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 13th from 4 to 7 P.M. at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Rosehill Cemetery in Grundy Center.
Frieda was born on August 20, 1924, in Lincoln, Iowa, the daughter of Hans & Emma
(Strahlendorf) Kuehl. She and her family lived in Garwin, Iowa and other surrounding communities, later settling with her family just south of Grundy Center. On January 7, 1946, Frieda was united in marriage to Louie Beenken in Davenport, Iowa. The couple resided in Grundy Center and welcomed 3 children into their family. Frieda helped her husband with farming and also worked at Manly Drug in Grundy Center for over 20 years.
She was an active member of the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center where she taught Sunday school. Frieda enjoyed gardening, flowers, birds, crocheting, sewing, puzzles, canning and baking, especially her famous Molasses Cookies. Frieda really enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She will be long remembered for her generosity and the love she gave to her family and friends.
Frieda is survived by her children Linda (Paul) Wehrman of Waterloo, Sandy (Gene) Peebles of Grundy Center and Alan (Bobbie) Beenken of Grundy Center; grandchildren Ann Marie (Todd) Armstrong of Grimes, Troy (Jennifer) Popes of Lebanon, MO, Julia Beenken, Jody (Dustin) Lutterman of Grundy Center and Lacy (Zach) Tripp of Grundy Center; great-grandchildren Aubrey & Howie Popes, Drake & Asher Lutterman and Abigail Tripp. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Louie; 7 brothers and 1 sister in infancy; son-in-law Howard Popes; several great-grandbabies.