Elfriede Neumann

ELFRIEDE NEUMANN, 90 SYCAMORE - Elfriede Neumann 90, formerly of Freeport, passed away at her home in Sycamore, Illinois on Sunday July 5. She was born December 28, 1924, in Friedrichstadt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany to George Peter Danklefsen and Catherine Christian. She enjoyed a happy childhood with her brother and sisters but saw in her early youth the changes that came to her country by the rise of Nazism. She was inducted into the German Army and saw the war up close, serving on an anti- aircraft battery in central Germany. After the war, she came home to hunger and devastation. She met and fell in love with Paul Neumann, a young former soldier and refugee who was working on the neighboring farm. They were soon married on May 25, 1947. They emigrated to the United States in 1950, and lived in Chicago where they quickly found work and began their life here, going to night school to learn English. A year later, Paul was drafted into the Marine Corps during the Korean conflict. After his honorable discharge, they started a family. In 1963, they moved to Freeport, Illinois, where they continued to raise their family and were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Elfriede was a kind and gentle soul full of feeling and concern for the welfare of those around her. She was well-known for her delicious cooking and beautifully decorated cakes. There were many occasions when she would visit the widows and elderly in town and deliver some of her famous cakes and cookies for friends and neighbors as well as provide meals for the lonely and forgotten. Elfriede was also talented at knitting, crocheting and sewing. She blessed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with beautiful blankets and clothing she had made. She was generous and very giving. She loved to take care of little children and was loving to all around her. She and Paul moved from Freeport to Sycamore in 2013, to be closer to family. Elfriede had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as a knowledge of the purpose of mortality, which guided her throughout her life. She is survived by her children, Paul (Sharon) of Sycamore Illinois, David (Renee) of Carpentersville Illinois, and Rebecca Kunz (Jay) of Seaside, California; as well as 13 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in April of this year; her father and mother; brother, George; and sister, Edith. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 10, at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home in Freeport. Service at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1716 S. Forest Rd., Freeport, Illinois, with Mark Hamer officiating. There will also be a visitation from 1 p.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Please sign Elfriede's guestbook and share a memory at www.burketubbs.com.