Mary Ann Freking, 87, of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Le Mars, passed away Tuesday December 22, 2015 at Brookdale East Arbor Assisted Living in Mesa. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. James Church in Le Mars. Father Patrick Behm will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral in Le Mars. There will be a rosary at 5 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Thursday. Pallbearers will be Gary Kessler, Dick Peters, Bruce Kruse, Eugene Kruse, Scott Koopman and Keith Koopman.
Mary Ann Freking was born on August 18, 1928 in Remsen, Iowa to Martin and Regina (Notham) Peters. She graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Remsen. Mary Ann continued her education at St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating in 1948. She used her degree as a nurse in Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah before returning to Sioux City.
Mary Ann was united in marriage to Emmett Freking on October 2, 1954 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen. They made their home on a farm near Le Mars, Iowa. Along with farming and raising her family, Mary Ann worked part time as a nurse at Sacred Heart (now Floyd Valley) Hospital in Le Mars. They retired in 1990 and spent winters in Mesa, Arizona and summers at Fish Hook Lake near Park Rapids, Minnesota. In 2000, Mary Ann and Emmett purchased a home in Le Mars. Emmett passed away on June 30, 2012. Mary Ann moved to Mesa, Arizona a year ago to be closer to family.
She was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish - St. James Church. She was also a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas and several prayer groups.
She will be lovingly remembered by her two children, Jean Marie Freking of Sacramento, California and James Freking of Mesa, Arizona; two grandsons, David and Jonathon Freking both of Phoenix, Arizona; brothers and sisters-in-law, Donna Freking of Boston, Massachusetts, Clayton Freking of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Joan Siegrist of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Duane Freking of Davenport, Iowa, Al and Melitta Freking of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Elizabeth and Merle Merritt of Denver, Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death are her parents; husband, Emmett; mother and father-in-law, Aloysius “Al” and Anna (Klontz) Freking; a brother, Martin Peters Jr. and his wife Arlene, brothers-in-law, Everoul Freking and Don Siegrist; and a sister-in-law, Edna Freking.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Ann Freking, please visit our
Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
