St. Mary's Newport Catholic Church

Robert "Bob" Frees, 84 of 525 Kimball Road, Iowa City died Friday, April 20, 2007, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Michael Phillips officiating. Burial with military honors will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Newport Township, of Johnson County. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Monday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City where a Catholic Order of Foresters Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged for the continued upkeep of St. Mary's Cemetery in Newport Township. 

Bob was born June 21, 1922, in Oxford, Iowa the son of Edward F. and Mary Ellen (Lichty) Frees. He attended schools in Oxford graduating from high school there in May of 1941. In June of that year he enlisted in the United States Navy. Following over four years of service he was honorably discharged in September of 1945. He returned to the Iowa City area where he met and later married Ruth Krall on April 8, 1947. Ruth died on July 21, 1983. He married Mary Ann Griffin Steinbrech in January of 1986.

For over twenty-five years Bob farmed in Newport Township of Johnson County. The farm remains in the family owned by Bill and Joan where they have resided for the past 29 years, when Bob retired from farming. Following this he owned and operated the former Keith Wilson Hatchery in Iowa City becoming Bob's Feed and Hatchery.

Bob is a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church; an active member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, holding all the offices in the local court St. Mary's #1110 of Solon. He also held all of the offices in the Cedar Valley District of the Order of Foresters being elected High Court Trustee holding that position from 1980 until 1995. Bob was also a Legion of Honor member, and was past president of the Iowa Fraternal Congress. He was a loyal Iowa Hawkeye fan. Bob has worked many hours on the restoration and upkeep of St. Mary's Catholic Church and Cemetery in Newport Township, having served as its president of the association since 1972.

Bob's family includes his wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Cindy Wombacher and her husband, John of Marion; Janet Chalupa and her husband, Mike of Poulsbo, WA; and Barbara White and her husband, Kevin of Iowa City; son, Bill Frees and his wife, Joan of Solon; sisters-in-law, Velma Nigg and Shirley Frees both of Iowa City; 14 grandchildren, John Wombacher, Amy Wombacher Helgerson, Chad Wombacher, Jason Wombacher, Stacy Marshall, Mike Williams, Laura Prosser, Jesse White, Lindsey White, and Neil White, Jennifer Frees Benson, Robert Frees, Heather Frees and Nate Frees; step-grandchildren, Monica Steinbrech and Molly Jo Steinbrech; 18 great-grandchildren, Allison, Emily, Elizabeth, and Michael Wombacher, Mariah, Morgan, and MacKenzie Helgerson, Olivia and Haley Wombacher, Matt, Ryann and Kate Wombacher, Tyler, Zachary and Melanie Benson, William and Leon Frees, and Isabel Frees; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ruth; 4 sisters, 5 brothers, and brother-in-law, Bill Nigg.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Bob's family and his services.