Freda Alwardt

Freda Alwardt, 89, of Altamont died at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, Effingham. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Michael Kloepping officiating. Burial will be in Arborcrest Memorial Park, rural Effingham. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont, and for one hour prior to the service Sunday at the church. Memorials may be made to Lutheran Care Center, Zion Lutheran Church or the donor's choice. Mrs. Alwardt was born Sept. 26, 1920, in rural Watson, Effingham County, to Anthony "Tony" and Olga (Mercier) Wenthe. She married Emil A. Alwardt Feb. 16, 1941, in Watson, and he preceded her in death Aug. 2, 1993. A homemaker, Mrs. Alwardt assisted with the Effingham County Fair Exhibits and was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, where she had been active with the Zion Ladies Aid. Mrs. Alwardt is survived by her sons, Leroy (wife, Ila) Alwardt of Mason and Orville (wife, Jean) Alwardt of Altamont; daughter, Marcella (husband, Dean) Biggs of Altamont; sister, Loretta Siebert of Effingham; daughter-in-law, Margaret (husband, Carl) Jakel of Breese; grandchildren, Tony (wife, Randi Kay) Alwardt of Edwardsville, Diane (husband, Trevor) Williford of Macedonia, and Cole Alwardt of Effingham; stepgrandson, Zach Hemrich of Altamont; and great-grandsons, Chase and Lincoln Alwardt. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Leonard Alwardt; and daughter-in-law, Patricia Alwardt.