Rev. Richard Fruehling

BEATRICE - The Rev. Richard R. C. Fruehling, 97, of Beatrice died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the Beatrice Community Hospital.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice. Bishop David deFreese and The Rev. David Kramer will officiate. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Lincoln.

Visitation was Sunday afternoon and evening and will continue from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday until noon at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.

He was born Aug. 18, 1912, at Johnson to The Rev. William and Rosa (Deubler) Fruehling.

Survivors of the immediate family include his wife JoAnn; one daughter Sharon Boschen of Santa Rosa, Calif.; two sons, Dr. Richard Fruehling and wife Sandra of Grand Island and Dr. Jim Fruehling of Davenport; three step-sons Steven Koenig and wife Diane of Colorado, Dr. Jeffrey Koenig of California, and Dr. Timothy Koenig and wife Beth of West Virginia; three brothers Dr. Wilmuth Fruehling and wife Marion of Waverly, Iowa, Pastor H. Walter Fruehling and wife Gladys of Seguin, Texas and Pastor Eldor Fruehling of Prairie-du-Sac, Wisconsin; and one sister Loretta Schmidt of Chicago.

Other survivors include four grandchildren, Dr. Erich Fruehling and wife Anna of Grand Island, Kirk Fruehling and Marvin Cavallero of San Francisco, Christian Fruehling and wife Sarah of Hastings, and Laura (Boschen) Robinson and husband Kevin of Petaluma, Calif.; five great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.

He was a 1930 graduate of Johnson High School. He graduated from Peru State Teachers College in 1936. He taught rural school near Johnson and was a principal at the elementary school in Auburn.

While in Auburn, he met Laura Holm and they were married Aug. 21, 1939. She passed away in 1985.

He then married JoAnn Schmale on Sept. 20, 1986.

Pastor Fruehling was a graduate of Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa and was a Lutheran minister for 67 years. He served congregations in Glenvil, Neb. and Le Mars, Iowa; and founded congregations in Tucson, Ariz. and Hastings.

He served at Zion Lutheran Church near Pickrell from 1956 to 1962, and was chaplain at the Martin Luther Home in Beatrice from 1968 until he retired in 1981. Pastor Fruehling then served as the visitation pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice for 26 years.

Pastor Fruehling was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice; the Lutheran Men in Mission; and the Beatrice Rotary Club. Pastor Fruehling truly enjoyed his service to others. He was taught as a child and lived by the motto "We Must Be Thankful."

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son Richard Larry Fruehling; first wife Laura Fruehling; and brother Erwin Fruehling.

A memorial has been established to St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Mosaic, the William and Rosa Fruehling Endowment Fund at Wartburg Seminary, and the ELCA World Hunger Fund with Sterling and Naomi Kohrs in charge.

Online messages of condolence and his video tribute may be viewed at www.griffithshovendick.com.

Sign the guestbook at theindependent.com/obits.