Gail Joan Freese
August 31, 1933 ~ December 5, 2022 (age 89) 89 Years Old
Tribute
Gail Joan (Gullickson) Freese passed peacefully in the arms of her loving Lord on Monday, December 5, 2022 surrounded by her family.
Gail was born on August 31,1933 to Alfred and Esther Gullickson in Woodville Wisconsin. She joined her siblings, Marian, Alden and Joyce. She made friends in her youth that continued until her last day, mostly with long conversations at the end.
She and Douglas Freese were united in marriage at Zion Lutheran Church in Woodville on November 3, 1952. They traveled to Spokane on their honeymoon which lasted 65 years as they made their home there for the rest of their lives.
They had four children Paul (Patty) Freese, Catherine (John) Neer, Rod (Deanna) Freese and Mary (John) Nyman. They thoroughly enjoyed 12 grandchildren Krister, Jessie, Myja, Beth, Chelsea, Garrett, Dan, Kim, Rusanne, Lindsey, Stephanie, Trisha and 16 great grandchildren who fondly knew her as Grandma Great.
Doug and Gail were the longest serving foster parents in the history of Lutheran Social Services, providing a home to more than 60 children, mostly infants that were placed with them in the pre- adoption phase.
Gail was an energetic mom to us rambunctious kids and we grew up well loved and filled with homemade bread and the best pies you could ever wish for. She taught us many important lessons even when we didn’t want to learn. She was patient and unwavering in her love that she shared abundantly and unconditionally. She was the beloved aunt, establishing and maintaining fun-loving relationships.
Gail was an avid reader and lifelong learner. She went back to college as an adult and graduated from EWU in 1982 with a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology. Gail was awarded the EWU Exceptional Senior award in 1981 as well as the Susan Miller award for speech pathology in 1982. She was the director of the Hearing Impaired Infant Program assisting deaf infants, young children and parents, establishing sign language or other methods of communication in the home.
She and Doug were faithful servants of the Lord throughout their lives and worshipped regularly, most recently at St Luke Lutheran Church. They cherished their lifelong friendships with many and gathered often to play cards, laugh, drink coffee and eat pie. Gail had a keen sense of humor and always appreciated a good laugh.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, her grandson Garrett and her son-in-law John Neer.
Our family will be forever grateful to the caregivers at Empowering Adult Family home for their loving care of our mom in her final months.
A memorial service will be held at St Luke Lutheran Church 9704 N. Division at 2:00 pm on Monday December 19, 2022. Memorial contributions can be given to St. Luke Lutheran Church or Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Gail was born on August 31,1933 to Alfred and Esther Gullickson in Woodville Wisconsin. She joined her siblings, Marian, Alden and Joyce. She made friends in her youth that continued until her last day, mostly with long conversations at the end.
She and Douglas Freese were united in marriage at Zion Lutheran Church in Woodville on November 3, 1952. They traveled to Spokane on their honeymoon which lasted 65 years as they made their home there for the rest of their lives.
They had four children Paul (Patty) Freese, Catherine (John) Neer, Rod (Deanna) Freese and Mary (John) Nyman. They thoroughly enjoyed 12 grandchildren Krister, Jessie, Myja, Beth, Chelsea, Garrett, Dan, Kim, Rusanne, Lindsey, Stephanie, Trisha and 16 great grandchildren who fondly knew her as Grandma Great.
Doug and Gail were the longest serving foster parents in the history of Lutheran Social Services, providing a home to more than 60 children, mostly infants that were placed with them in the pre- adoption phase.
Gail was an energetic mom to us rambunctious kids and we grew up well loved and filled with homemade bread and the best pies you could ever wish for. She taught us many important lessons even when we didn’t want to learn. She was patient and unwavering in her love that she shared abundantly and unconditionally. She was the beloved aunt, establishing and maintaining fun-loving relationships.
Gail was an avid reader and lifelong learner. She went back to college as an adult and graduated from EWU in 1982 with a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology. Gail was awarded the EWU Exceptional Senior award in 1981 as well as the Susan Miller award for speech pathology in 1982. She was the director of the Hearing Impaired Infant Program assisting deaf infants, young children and parents, establishing sign language or other methods of communication in the home.
She and Doug were faithful servants of the Lord throughout their lives and worshipped regularly, most recently at St Luke Lutheran Church. They cherished their lifelong friendships with many and gathered often to play cards, laugh, drink coffee and eat pie. Gail had a keen sense of humor and always appreciated a good laugh.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, her grandson Garrett and her son-in-law John Neer.
Our family will be forever grateful to the caregivers at Empowering Adult Family home for their loving care of our mom in her final months.
A memorial service will be held at St Luke Lutheran Church 9704 N. Division at 2:00 pm on Monday December 19, 2022. Memorial contributions can be given to St. Luke Lutheran Church or Lutheran Community Services Northwest
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