Marvel Mary Moore, 103
Marvel Mary Matlock Freudenberg Moore left this earth on January 22, 2024, and joined the choir of Angels in Heaven; she was 103 years of age. was born October 10, 1920, in Kimball, Nebraska, to LeRoy and Mabel Parris Matlock.The family moved to Gering in 1923. She was baptized in the First Christian Church in Gering.
Her mother died when she was 11 years of age. She made her home with her oldest brother, in Guernsey,Wyo., for a year and attended 6th grade there, then returned to Gering where she was raised by her dad and older brothers and sister. Marvel graduated from Gering High School in 1938.
She was united in marriage to Elmer Freudenberg on December 18, 1937, in Harrisburg, Nebr.They moved to Gurley in 1938. In August of 1939 they were blessed with their first of three children, all being born in the Dalton Hospital: Jeanette, Bernice and Richard. In the mid 1940s Elmer and Marvel owned and operated “The Lunch Room Café,” a popular hangout for the high school kids in Gurley. Marvel was the #1 fan of the Gurley Town Team Baseball in the ’40s and ’50s.
Elmer and Marvel provided a home for several relatives, her dad, his sister, nieces, nephews, and for 15 years, numerous foster children. She was a 4-H leader, Girl Scout leader, helped with the Boys Scouts, taxi driver for her grandsons and their teammates to baseball games. Randy Rohde came to make his home with the Freudenbergs following the death of his father. Marvel was a volunteer care giver and taxi for many aged and disabled adults in Gurley and Sidney.
Her faith was important to her; she was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Gurley (now United Church of the Plains). Her knowledge of the Bible was of great benefit as she taught Sunday School and assisted the Pastor with Confirmation classes. She served on the Gurley Centennial Committee and American Legion Auxiliary. She loved chicken fried steak and wouldn’t eat peas.
Upon the death of Elmer in 1978, Marvel went to work at Nettie’s Kitchen in Gurley. Marvel’s love for children led her to become a teacher’s aide at the Leyton Elementary/Middle School in Gurley at the age of 68 and after 17 years, she retired at the age of 85. She dedicated her life to serving others and was granny to many children.
Marvel loved to travel and was always first one in the car, asking, “Where are we going today?” Her travels included England (homeland of her grandparents) several European and Scandinavian countries, Canada, Nova Scotia, to every corner of the USA, all states in between, and Hawaii.
On Sept. 27, 2003, Marvel married one of her former high school classmates, Don Moore of Gering. She enjoyed living part time on his farm south of Gering. Don passed away in 2013.
Marvel enjoyed working in her flower gardens, trimming, transplanting, watering and weeding, traveling, cooking, reading and was still mowing her own yard into her 90’s. Her memory was unbelievable. In her 100’s she frequently recited poems she had learned as an elementary school student. She was a great historian recalling the histories of Gurley families, community and surrounding area. She was very proud of the fact that she had lived in Gurley longer than anyone else had.
She enjoyed following her children, grandchildren, greatand great-great-grands in their activities, being along the sidelines at football games or in the bleachers at the basketball games. She was an avid Husker fan and attended several games in Lincoln and Wesleyan University when her great grandson, Zach, was playing.
Survivors include daughters Jeanette Jackson of Columbus and Bernice Russell of Gurley; sons Richard (Kay) Freudenberg of Lincoln and foster son Randy (Marlene) Rohde of Columbus; step-daughter Janice (Mike) Chrisman of McGrew; 12 grandchildren: Brenda Jackson, Arlington,TX, Scott/Kathy Jackson, Columbus, NE, Rodney Russell, Potter, NE, Bryan Russell (Kim), Janese/Harold Travis, Jennifer Russell–all of Gurley, John/Connie Freudenberg of Lincoln, Holly (Jeremy) Schulties of South Dakota, Michael/ Raeleen Rohde, Sadie/Adam Foster, Marcus Rohde, and Tracy Rahmig; 19 great-grandchildren: Leslie Jackson, Kristina Jackson,Timothy/Danielle Jackson, Jessie(Brock) Anderson, Justin Russell, Amanda(Rob) Reilly, Sheena(Ryan) Jenson, Kellan Travis, Riita (John) Grant and Zach Hellie, Sean, Kaitlyn, and Braxton Freudenberg, and Reagan and Aaron Schulties, Emma and Natalie Rohde and Kaylee and AJ Foster, Rusty/ Teagan Rahmig; 19 great-great grandchildren, Zander/Maverick Jackson, Nora, Leah/Noah Jenson, Avrilynne, Owen/Wyatt Travis, Andric, Hunter/Brysen Grant, Eleina/Kellan Reilly, Blaine, Mark/Taelynn Russell, Nataliy, Delaney/Berkley Anderson; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family; and special friends Mark and Chris Lind.
Marvell was pre-deceased by her husbands, Elmer in 1978 and Don in 2013; sons-in-law Wayne Russell and William Jackson; great-granddaughter Sara Russell, grandsons James Freudenberg and Travis Jackson; and great-grandson Austin Rahmig; granddaughter Nancy Russell; both of her parents and parentsin- law; two sisters Florence and Zitma; brothers Leo, Everett, Clyde, Bill, Howard and Clemet; sisters-in-law Leota (Kenneth) Barr, Ada (Al) Sommerfeld, Fern (Vernon) Neemann, Ruby Freudenberg, Phyllis (Richard) Ladine; brothers-in-law Albert (Ruby) Freudenberg and Clifford Freudenberg.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 29, 2024, at the United Church of the Plains in Dalton with Pastor Bud Gillespie officiating; burial followed in the Dalton Cemetery. Family and friends can leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals. com. Memorials may be made to St. Judes and/or Leyton Elementary School.