The youngest child of Louis Henry Meseke and Mathilda Wilhelmina "Tillie" Willenburg, Freda was baptized on 31 Mar 1918 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels, Calhoun County, Illinois. Her sponsors were Rosa Kulp and Louisa Ortleb.
She grew up on the family farm a few miles from Brussels. A sickly child, she attended school when her health permitted.
Later in life, she often told the story about how the doctor advised her father that she should be taken to school in a wagon when she was unable to walk the long distance to town. Regretfully, he informed the doctor that this would not be possible since the wagon was needed for farm work. Freda's older brothers and sisters would go over school lessons with her on days when she was unable to attend class.
Freda married Robert Raymond "Bob" Robeen on 15 Oct 1940 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. The day was all the more special because it was her father's 66th birthday and the 7th birthday of her oldest niece.
Freda was a homemaker, and he was a farmer. They were the parents of 1 child.
Freda was a life-long member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. She was a great help to her parents after her brother, Bud, was killed in action during World War II.
Bob eventually took over the Meseke family farm. He farmed in Calhoun County for many years before taking a job with the Illinois Department of Transportation as a bridge attendant at the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin, Illinois.
After Bob retired, Freda taught him how to embroider. She often told how challenging it had been to show him how to do the intricate sewing involved since he was left-handed. She solved the problem by facing him as she gave him instructions.
The 2 of them worked together to produce hundreds of finely stitched pillowcases and other items that were much in demand by those who appreciated the beauty of hand-made keepsakes. Bob became highly skilled with his embroidery work, and Freda would finish each pair of pillowcases with her fancy crochet work.
Bob passed away in April of 2004.
Freda continued to live in her own home and sew for many more years. She loved to entertain family members, neighbors and friends who visited frequently. In February of 2013, her grandchildren surprised her with a 95th birthday party open house that was attended by many.
Freda suffered a broken hip in a fall on 25 Oct 2013. Following surgery, she was a patient in a St. Louis County nursing home for a few weeks until just before Christmas of that year. After another fall at the nursing home, she was hospitalized and then transferred to Calhoun Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hardin. She passed away there at the age of 96 years, 2 months and 2 days.
Freda was survived by 1 granddaughter and her husband; 2 grandsons and their wives; 6 great-grandchildren; 3 nieces; 3 nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and many relatives from her husband's family.
In addition to her husband, Bob, Freda was preceded in death by her parents; 1 son, Roger Robeen; 5 brothers, Henry, Louis, George, Oscar and Bud Meseke; 2 sisters, Bertha Arnold and Oleta Freand; and 4 nephews, Dale Freand, Lonnie Freand, Don Arnold and Dave Meseke.
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. on 13 Apr 2014 at Hanks-Gress Funeral Home in Brussels. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. the following morning at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. Freda was buried next to her husband and son in the church cemetery.
Children: 1 son.
Mother of:
Roger Ray Robeen
Freda's siblings:
Henry August "Heinie" Meseke
Louis Albert Carl "Louie" Meseke
George William Meseke
Bertha Marie Meseke Arnold
Oscar Fred Meseke
Otto Horace "Bud" Meseke
Oleta Dorothy Meseke Freand
She grew up on the family farm a few miles from Brussels. A sickly child, she attended school when her health permitted.
Later in life, she often told the story about how the doctor advised her father that she should be taken to school in a wagon when she was unable to walk the long distance to town. Regretfully, he informed the doctor that this would not be possible since the wagon was needed for farm work. Freda's older brothers and sisters would go over school lessons with her on days when she was unable to attend class.
Freda married Robert Raymond "Bob" Robeen on 15 Oct 1940 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. The day was all the more special because it was her father's 66th birthday and the 7th birthday of her oldest niece.
Freda was a homemaker, and he was a farmer. They were the parents of 1 child.
Freda was a life-long member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. She was a great help to her parents after her brother, Bud, was killed in action during World War II.
Bob eventually took over the Meseke family farm. He farmed in Calhoun County for many years before taking a job with the Illinois Department of Transportation as a bridge attendant at the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin, Illinois.
After Bob retired, Freda taught him how to embroider. She often told how challenging it had been to show him how to do the intricate sewing involved since he was left-handed. She solved the problem by facing him as she gave him instructions.
The 2 of them worked together to produce hundreds of finely stitched pillowcases and other items that were much in demand by those who appreciated the beauty of hand-made keepsakes. Bob became highly skilled with his embroidery work, and Freda would finish each pair of pillowcases with her fancy crochet work.
Bob passed away in April of 2004.
Freda continued to live in her own home and sew for many more years. She loved to entertain family members, neighbors and friends who visited frequently. In February of 2013, her grandchildren surprised her with a 95th birthday party open house that was attended by many.
Freda suffered a broken hip in a fall on 25 Oct 2013. Following surgery, she was a patient in a St. Louis County nursing home for a few weeks until just before Christmas of that year. After another fall at the nursing home, she was hospitalized and then transferred to Calhoun Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hardin. She passed away there at the age of 96 years, 2 months and 2 days.
Freda was survived by 1 granddaughter and her husband; 2 grandsons and their wives; 6 great-grandchildren; 3 nieces; 3 nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and many relatives from her husband's family.
In addition to her husband, Bob, Freda was preceded in death by her parents; 1 son, Roger Robeen; 5 brothers, Henry, Louis, George, Oscar and Bud Meseke; 2 sisters, Bertha Arnold and Oleta Freand; and 4 nephews, Dale Freand, Lonnie Freand, Don Arnold and Dave Meseke.
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. on 13 Apr 2014 at Hanks-Gress Funeral Home in Brussels. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. the following morning at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. Freda was buried next to her husband and son in the church cemetery.
Children: 1 son.
Mother of:
Roger Ray Robeen
Freda's siblings:
Henry August "Heinie" Meseke
Louis Albert Carl "Louie" Meseke
George William Meseke
Bertha Marie Meseke Arnold
Oscar Fred Meseke
Otto Horace "Bud" Meseke
Oleta Dorothy Meseke Freand
The youngest child of Louis Henry Meseke and Mathilda Wilhelmina "Tillie" Willenburg, Freda was baptized on 31 Mar 1918 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels, Calhoun County, Illinois. Her sponsors were Rosa Kulp and Louisa Ortleb.
She grew up on the family farm a few miles from Brussels. A sickly child, she attended school when her health permitted.
Later in life, she often told the story about how the doctor advised her father that she should be taken to school in a wagon when she was unable to walk the long distance to town. Regretfully, he informed the doctor that this would not be possible since the wagon was needed for farm work. Freda's older brothers and sisters would go over school lessons with her on days when she was unable to attend class.
Freda married Robert Raymond "Bob" Robeen on 15 Oct 1940 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. The day was all the more special because it was her father's 66th birthday and the 7th birthday of her oldest niece.
Freda was a homemaker, and he was a farmer. They were the parents of 1 child.
Freda was a life-long member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. She was a great help to her parents after her brother, Bud, was killed in action during World War II.
Bob eventually took over the Meseke family farm. He farmed in Calhoun County for many years before taking a job with the Illinois Department of Transportation as a bridge attendant at the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin, Illinois.
After Bob retired, Freda taught him how to embroider. She often told how challenging it had been to show him how to do the intricate sewing involved since he was left-handed. She solved the problem by facing him as she gave him instructions.
The 2 of them worked together to produce hundreds of finely stitched pillowcases and other items that were much in demand by those who appreciated the beauty of hand-made keepsakes. Bob became highly skilled with his embroidery work, and Freda would finish each pair of pillowcases with her fancy crochet work.
Bob passed away in April of 2004.
Freda continued to live in her own home and sew for many more years. She loved to entertain family members, neighbors and friends who visited frequently. In February of 2013, her grandchildren surprised her with a 95th birthday party open house that was attended by many.
Freda suffered a broken hip in a fall on 25 Oct 2013. Following surgery, she was a patient in a St. Louis County nursing home for a few weeks until just before Christmas of that year. After another fall at the nursing home, she was hospitalized and then transferred to Calhoun Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hardin. She passed away there at the age of 96 years, 2 months and 2 days.
Freda was survived by 1 granddaughter and her husband; 2 grandsons and their wives; 6 great-grandchildren; 3 nieces; 3 nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and many relatives from her husband's family.
In addition to her husband, Bob, Freda was preceded in death by her parents; 1 son, Roger Robeen; 5 brothers, Henry, Louis, George, Oscar and Bud Meseke; 2 sisters, Bertha Arnold and Oleta Freand; and 4 nephews, Dale Freand, Lonnie Freand, Don Arnold and Dave Meseke.
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. on 13 Apr 2014 at Hanks-Gress Funeral Home in Brussels. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. the following morning at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. Freda was buried next to her husband and son in the church cemetery.
Children: 1 son.
Mother of:
Roger Ray Robeen
Freda's siblings:
Henry August "Heinie" Meseke
Louis Albert Carl "Louie" Meseke
George William Meseke
Bertha Marie Meseke Arnold
Oscar Fred Meseke
Otto Horace "Bud" Meseke
Oleta Dorothy Meseke Freand
She grew up on the family farm a few miles from Brussels. A sickly child, she attended school when her health permitted.
Later in life, she often told the story about how the doctor advised her father that she should be taken to school in a wagon when she was unable to walk the long distance to town. Regretfully, he informed the doctor that this would not be possible since the wagon was needed for farm work. Freda's older brothers and sisters would go over school lessons with her on days when she was unable to attend class.
Freda married Robert Raymond "Bob" Robeen on 15 Oct 1940 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. The day was all the more special because it was her father's 66th birthday and the 7th birthday of her oldest niece.
Freda was a homemaker, and he was a farmer. They were the parents of 1 child.
Freda was a life-long member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. She was a great help to her parents after her brother, Bud, was killed in action during World War II.
Bob eventually took over the Meseke family farm. He farmed in Calhoun County for many years before taking a job with the Illinois Department of Transportation as a bridge attendant at the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin, Illinois.
After Bob retired, Freda taught him how to embroider. She often told how challenging it had been to show him how to do the intricate sewing involved since he was left-handed. She solved the problem by facing him as she gave him instructions.
The 2 of them worked together to produce hundreds of finely stitched pillowcases and other items that were much in demand by those who appreciated the beauty of hand-made keepsakes. Bob became highly skilled with his embroidery work, and Freda would finish each pair of pillowcases with her fancy crochet work.
Bob passed away in April of 2004.
Freda continued to live in her own home and sew for many more years. She loved to entertain family members, neighbors and friends who visited frequently. In February of 2013, her grandchildren surprised her with a 95th birthday party open house that was attended by many.
Freda suffered a broken hip in a fall on 25 Oct 2013. Following surgery, she was a patient in a St. Louis County nursing home for a few weeks until just before Christmas of that year. After another fall at the nursing home, she was hospitalized and then transferred to Calhoun Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hardin. She passed away there at the age of 96 years, 2 months and 2 days.
Freda was survived by 1 granddaughter and her husband; 2 grandsons and their wives; 6 great-grandchildren; 3 nieces; 3 nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and many relatives from her husband's family.
In addition to her husband, Bob, Freda was preceded in death by her parents; 1 son, Roger Robeen; 5 brothers, Henry, Louis, George, Oscar and Bud Meseke; 2 sisters, Bertha Arnold and Oleta Freand; and 4 nephews, Dale Freand, Lonnie Freand, Don Arnold and Dave Meseke.
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. on 13 Apr 2014 at Hanks-Gress Funeral Home in Brussels. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. the following morning at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels. Freda was buried next to her husband and son in the church cemetery.
Children: 1 son.
Mother of:
Roger Ray Robeen
Freda's siblings:
Henry August "Heinie" Meseke
Louis Albert Carl "Louie" Meseke
George William Meseke
Bertha Marie Meseke Arnold
Oscar Fred Meseke
Otto Horace "Bud" Meseke
Oleta Dorothy Meseke Freand
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