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Freda Nielsen was born in the parsonage of Trinity Lutheran Church, Friedensau (near Hebron, Nebraska) January 12, 1899, the daughter of the Rev. Henry and Friederieka Schultz Schabacker. She died December 13, 1989 at Jefferson County Nursing Home in Fairbury at age 90.

Freda grew up in the parsonage in which she was born and graduated from Friedensau Lutheran Grade School and then went to Deshler College, from which she graduated in 1924. She also attended Kearney State Teachers College. She was an elementary school teacher for the Lutheran congregations at Wauneta, Tobias, and Arapahoe, and St. Paul's Lutheran School of Western. Over her years she had also done housekeeping work in Denver, Hastings, and Sioux City, Iowa. On July 19, 1931 she married Albert Nielsen at Arapahoe. The couple made their home on a farm west of Western.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albert; five brothers, Martin, Erich, Herbert, Henry, and Julius Schabacker; sisters, Theodora Sontag, Esther Hofius, and Cordula Blessin; and grandson, John Martin.

She is survived by three sons, Martin Nielsen of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Herman Nielsen of Hanover Park, Illinois; and Paul Nielsen of Mahomet, Illinois; daughter, Esther Kohler of Elyria, Ohio; brother, the Rev. Ted Schabacker of Mesa, Arizona; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were December 16, 1989 at Zion Lutheran Church in Tobias. Burial was at the church cemetery. Pastor Kent Wartick officiated. Wilma Jordening was the organist.

Pallbearers were Eric Nielsen, James Nielsen, Mark Nielsen, Daniel Nielsen, Donald Nielsen, and Randall Nolte. Honorary pallbearers were Erwin Bartels, Leonard Bartels, Vernon Bartels, Willis Niederklein, Victor Rohr, and Arnold Roesler, students of Mrs. Nielsen while she taught at Zion. Memorials may be sent to the Rhode Scholarship Fund of Zion.

Source: The Crete News, December 20, 1989
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