Carole Freese

Carole Freese age 89 of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away on March 11, 2024, at 7:05 a.m. at Heritage House.  She was born March 3, 1935, at the Atlantic Hospital on 5th Street, the daughter of Harvey and Bee Peterson. Carole graduated from Atlantic High School in 1953.  After graduation, Carole attended Drake University and returned to Atlantic to work at Morman Feeds and then Walnut Grove Products.

On June 12, 1955, Carole married Gene Freese.  They settled in Bremerton, WA, where Gene was stationed in the Navy.  After Gene’s discharge, they came back to Ames, Iowa and then moved to Chicago IL where Gene worked for the Standard Milling Company and Carole worked for the Paper Mate Pen Company.  In 1957, Gene and Carole returned to Atlantic where both worked for Walnut Grove Products.  In that year, they also purchased the Platime Roller Skating Rink from Carole’s mother and father.  Gene and Carole both enjoyed skating and creating a fun place for others around the Atlantic area.  They owned and operated this business for 38 years. 

Carole was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church for 74+ years.  She enjoyed serving as President of the Presbyterian Women for several years as well as being a member of that great group of church women.  Carole also helped with vacation bible school, fellowship coffees, etc.   She served for several years as a State leader (Adult Personnel) for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (Masonic Youth Group), and she also served as the Mother Advisor of the Atlantic Rainbow Assembly.  She put together many Rainbow State Dad skits to make events fun for others.  She was a Brownie and Girls Scout Leader.  Carole and Gene also sponsored the Platime Rebel’s Skate Club that once had a membership of over 50 youth in Atlantic who worked to do good for others especially The Christian Home “For the Homeless Child – A Chance” in Council Bluffs.  Carole loved her family and led with a gentle, supportive and caring hand.  She always added small touches that made things others did better.  She loved having all her family work and play together.  She felt happy when people were busy, and she tried to come up with various ideas that she could have people “help” her with.  She was always making something, from handwork to drawing patterns for Gene’s woodworking shop to collecting and reinventing recipes.  She and Gene enjoyed spending time with family and friends both in Atlantic and at their lake home in Okoboji. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene G. Freese, her parents, Harvey and Bee Peterson, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Otto and Florence Freese, her sister, Jone Peterson, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Donald and Sally Freese, her brother-in-law, William Carlson and her nephew, Gary Freese. 

She is survived by children, Kathy Freese and Deb (Mike) Braverman, grandchildren, Ann (Matt Seikel) Braverman and Sarah Braverman, her sister, Pam Carlson, nephews and nieces, and many friends.  

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the First United Presbyterian Church with interment of cremains at the Atlantic Cemetery.  A time of visitation with the family will be held during the luncheon in the church fellowship hall following the service.

The service will be live-streamed on the First United Presbyterian Church YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@AtlanticPresbyterian. The service will also be recorded and available for viewing on the funeral home website under Carole’s life story by end of day on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the organ restoration project at First United Presbyterian Church in Atlantic.

Roland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.