Margaret Lucille (Keiner) Freerking was born on December 21, 1923 to Fred G. and Edith A. (Wessel) Keiner near Charter Oak, Iowa. Her education started in Franklin, South Dakota and she graduated from Dow City High School with the class of 1941. Following high school, she attended summer school for teachers at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. Margaret taught in rural one room schools in Crawford County for four years. She had many fond memories of teaching students at Paradise No. 4 and enjoyed keeping up with them over the years.
Margaret married Lee Tyler Freerking on October 10, 1948 at the Methodist parsonage in Onawa. To this union was born two children, Russell and Rita. The family lived on a farm north of Paullina for several years until they moved into town. Camping and road trips, especially to America’s national parks, were treasured family pastimes. Margaret was delighted by all birds and kept her birdwatching guide and binoculars close by. Margaret also enjoyed embroidering and often gifted her work to others. Above all, she cherished getting to know people and learning about their lives.
Margaret passed away on December 20, 2021 at RidgeView Assisted Living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the age of 97 years, 11 months and 29 days – just one day before her 98th birthday.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lee Tyler Freerking; siblings: Ed (Mary) Keiner, Viola (Lewis) Malone, Leona (Otto) Peterson, Arlene (Paul) Thomsen, Helen (Larry) Adams, Berniece (Fritz) Thomsen, Donald (Marcella “Sal”) Keiner, and Norman Keiner. She is survived by her two children: Russell (Marie) Freerking of Decorah and Rita (Doug) Pierson of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren: Brian Freerking of Rice, Minnesota, Sara (Beau) Jacobmeyer Pinkham of Iowa City, Claire Quelle of Cedar Falls; three step-grandchildren: Rebekah Pierson of Springfield, Illinois, Daniel Pierson of Des Moines, and Andrew (Brandy) Pierson of West Des Moines; sister-in-law, Marilyn Keiner of Lincoln, Nebraska; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services were held 10:30 A.M., Monday, December 27, 2021, at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa. Rev. Richard Francis officiated the service with interment in St. Clair Cemetery in Ute, Iowa. Recorded musical selections included “Jealous of the Angels” by Donna Taggart and “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill. Serving as pallbearers were Russell Freerking, Brian Freerking, Sara Jacobmeyer Pinkham, Claire Quelle, Daniel Pierson, Andrew Pierson and Beau Pinkham. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.