Verlene R. Freeland
Funeral Services for Verlene R. Freeland was held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Chaplain Kathy Doiel officiating. Interment followed at the Industry Cemetery in rural Atlanta, Nebraska.
Verlene Ruth (Schmidt) Freeland, 86 years of age, of Holdrege, formerly of rural Atlanta, passed away on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at the Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska.
She was born on March 8, 1937, in Laramie, Wyoming, the second of nine children born to Bernard E. and Ruth M.
(Swanson) Schmidt. She received her education from Holdrege Public School.
On August 10, 1954, she was united in marriage to Dennison Jackson “Punch” Freeland and to this union, they were blessed with six children: Steve, Terry, Mark, Dave, Tami, and Julie. Verlene and Punch also helped raise her brother, Ronald “Dutch” Schmidt. The family made their home on a farm south of Atlanta, where they engaged in farming. Besides caring for family, Verlene was employed at Becton Dickinson until her retirement. Punch preceded her in death on December 13, 2010. In 2017, Verlene began to make her home at Holdrege Memorial Homes.
Verlene was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Atlanta for many years, serving on the Ladies Auxiliary. She was known as Granny, and was an exceptional cook, especially her fried chicken, and would make a pie of your choice for your birthday!
She also spent many hours tending to her flower garden. Verlene cherished spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and had a stocking hung on the fireplace mantle at Christmas time for each one.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters: Carol Conley and her husband, Harvey; Kay Evans; brother, Ronald “Dutch” Schmidt; Don Schmidt; Bernard Schmidt in infancy; Raymond Schmidt; Milan Schmidt; grandson-inlaw, Justin Fisher; and many in-laws.
Verlene leaves to celebrate her life, her six children: Steve Freeland of Fullerton, Nebraska; Terry Freeland and his wife, Beverly of Atlanta; Mark Freeland and his wife, Patricia of Kearney; Dave Freeland and his wife, Diane of Holdrege; Tami Peltier and her husband, Greg of Concordia, Kansas; and Julie Lindstrom and her husband, Bryan of rural Oxford, Nebraska; daughterin- law, Linda Freeland of Loomis, Nebraska; eleven grandchildren: Travis Freeland and his wife, Katie; Tyler Freeland and his wife, Kalei; Micki Fisher; Cody Freeland and his wife, Tami; Lacie Wright and her husband, Kelly; Whitney Krienert and her husband, Cole; Kyle Freeland and his wife, Rylee; Meagan Peters and her husband, Brett; Amanda Browitt and her husband, Jordan; Makaila Peltier; and Maddison Peltier; 23 great-grandchildren: Jada, Crew, and Taylor Freeland; Harper and Marshall Freeland; Jonah and Ridley Fisher; Hailey and Trevor Freeland; Lexie, Kallie, Tanner, and Gunner Wright; Charlie and Oliver Krienert; Karter, Jennica, and Tucker Freeland; Aubrey, Ava, and Beckam Peters; Neveah and Bentley Browitt; one brother, Leighton Schmidt and his wife, Janet of Beaver City, Nebraska; two sistersin- law: Faye Peterson and her husband, Rod of Gibbon, Nebraska; and Beverly Braden of Kearney; two brothers-in-law, Dennis Evans of Elwood, Nebraska; Larry Freeland and his wife, Sharon of Franklin, Nebraska; along with many extended family members and friends.
Visitation was held on Friday, November 17, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.
A memorial has been established in Verlene’s memory and kindly suggested to Industry Cemetery or Atlanta Methodist Church.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at HYPERLINK “http://www.nelsonbauerfh. com”www.
nelsonbauerfh.com The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
