Darrel L. Freitag

Darrel L. Freitag was born June 25, 1935, at the family farm near Diller Nebraska to George and Edith Greider Freitag. He died January 5, 2024, at Beatrice Community Hospital.He was baptized at the Congregation Church of Diller in April, 1938. He attended grade school at District #56, grades 1-8, and graduated from Diller High School in May, 1952 at the age of 16. Four months later, he began his teaching career at District #42 where he taught grades 1-8 from 1952-1954. He began taking summer classes at Fairbury Junior College during the summer of 1953. From 1954-1958, he taught grades 1-8 at District #74. Starting in the fall of 1958, he taught grades 5-6 at Ruskin, Nebraska. During the time he taught at Ruskin, he graduated in May of 1959 with a two-year degree from Fairbury Junior CollegeHe was united in marriage to Marjorie Schultz of Fairbury on May 24, 1959 at Grace Lutheran Church of Fairbury. In the fall of 1960, he began teaching grade six at West Ward School. Also, in 1960, he joined and was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church.Their three children, Kimberly, Kristyn, and Douglas were born in Fairbury.From 1961-1966, he began as a building principal and sixth grade teacher at Central School. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1966. After graduating from UNL with a Master’s Degree in Education in 1969, he became elementary coordinator for the K-6 schools in Fairbury which included Park School, West School, East School, Central School and a satellite school at Jansen.In 1978, he graduated from UNL with a Six-Year Administrator and Supervisor Degree in Education.He was a member of the Fairbury Education Association and Nebraska State Association 1960-1997. He was also a member of Phi Delta Kappa Organization and the National Elementary Principals Association from 1977-1997. he retired after 36 years as Elementary Principal/Elementary Coordinator of the Fairbury Public Schools and a total of 45 years in education. He was a member of the Fairbury Lions Club for twenty plus years, including two years as president.In 2006, he and his wife moved to Beatrice, Nebraska. They joined Holy Cross Lutheran Church in 2007. They celebrated 57 years of marriage.He is survived by his daughters, Kimberly Stephens of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Kristyn Pishny and her husband John of Fairbury. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Nathan Stephens and Heather Stephens of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Michaela Bowles and her husband Zachary of Mesa, Arizona, and Emily Garcia and her husband Junior of Arlington, Nebraska. Great-grandchildren Valaina and Jace Bowles of Mesa, Arizona, and Oliver Garcia of Arlington, Nebraska. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Bohman Kunc of Salina, Kansas, and numerous other relatives.He was preceded in death by his wife, Marge, son, Douglas, son-in-law Jack, brother, Dwaine Freitag, sisters Mary Kunc and Joyce Cordry and her husband Ken. Services will be Friday January 12, 2024 at 9:30 at Prairie Home Cemetery - Diller, NE, with Funeral Service to follow at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Beatrice (1918 Garfield Street) at 11:00 a.m. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com

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