Obituary-Merle Irene Frericks

Merle Irene (Niedermann) Frericks, Gladbrook, passed away on Friday, January 15, 2016, at Westbrook Acres, Gladbrook. Visitation will be held at the peace Church, Gladbrook, on FRiday, January 22, 2016, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the funeral service. Funeral service will be held at the Peace Church, Gladbrook, on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Badger Hill Cemetery after the service. Memorials may be directed to Marshalltown Iowa River Hospice, Westbrook Acres Nursing Home, Gladbrook or Gladbrook Peace Church. Condolences may be left at www.overtonservice.com. Merle Irene (Niedermann) Frericks was born on March 2, 1922 at a farm home Northeast of Garwin, to John Alfred and Lillie May (Claussen) Niedermann. She attended Rural “Rock Valley” Carlton #8 and rural “Whippoorwill” Carlton #7; and Garwin High School, graduating in 1939. After graduation Merle attended a three month summer term at Iowa State Teacher’s College (UNI) in Cedar Falls. Once she turned 18, she taught at Whippoorwill for one year and Center School Carlton #5 for one year. Merle married Henry E. Frericks on August 25, 1941 by a Justice of the Peace in Princeton, Missouri. They lived on the family farm until 1965 when they moved into town. During the years of farming Merle helped with chores around the farm. She taught Sunday school at the EUB Church, and she served in the Ladies Aid as President and was on the church board. After the closure of the EUB Church, Merle became of member of the Peace Church in Gladbrook. After moving to town she was a secretary at Gladbrook Schools for twenty years and she was also a member of the Tama County Tracers Genealogical Society in Toledo. Merle worked several years on their family genealogy and was instrumental in getting the Hanisch Heritage book published in 1997. Merle, 93, of Gladbrook, passed away on Friday, January 15, 2016 at Westbrook Acres under the care of Iowa River Hospice. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry in August 2006; sister-in-law Kathy Niedermann in March 2013; her sister Hazel Hauser in December 2013; a daughter-in-law Linda Frericks in January 2014; three brothers-in-law Don Hauser in November 2006, Roger Thede in May 2007 and Bob Hempy in July 2010; and other relatives and friends. Left to cherish her memories are her children: Loran (Jane) Frericks of Gladbrook, Barbara Storjohann of Conrad, and Shirley (Steve) Thomas of Marshalltown; six grandchildren: Lonnie (Sigrid) Frericks of King George, VA, Leanna Frericks of Waterloo, Joel (Amber) Storjohann of Conrad, Stacey Storjohann of San Diego, CA, Nicole Steemer of Burlington and Robert (Laura) Thomas of Grinnell; sixteen great-grandchildren: Heather Frericks, Matt, Levi, Branden (Casey) and Haley Storjohann, Landon and William Steemer, Jacob, Grace, Abigail, Esther, Naomi, Anna, Isaiah, Micah and Rebekah Thomas; three step great-grandchildren: Luke, Jake and Valerie Hulin; two sisters: Norma Thede of Perry and Frances Hempy of Montour; and a brother Stanley Niedermann of Garwin; and many nieces and nephews She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be missed by all who were lucky enough to have known her.