Harold George Freehling, Sr. Obituary (1925 - 2016)

Harold George Freehling, Sr., 91, of Baroda Twp., died in St. Joseph MI, and went to be with his Lord on November 20, 2016. Harold was born October 16, 1925, to George and Katherine (Busick) Freehling on the Busick family farm on Cleveland Ave in Baroda twp. Later, his parents moved to a two room house on a farm on West Glendora Rd., Buchanan, where Harold could be seen plowing the fields with a draft horse from the time he was eight years old. Between 1944-1946, Harold served in the United States Army during World War II, and on July 13, 1946, he married Wilma Louis Backus in Glendora, MI. For nearly his entire life, Harold was a dairy, hog, and grain farmer on the Busick (now Freehling) family farm, where he was born, up until he retired in 1994. His farm will be in his family for over 100 years in 2017, an event to which he was looking forward. True to his vocation, he still continued to monitor the weather and checked to see how the corps were growing and how the harvest fared each year after his retirement. He was a lifelong member of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glendora. Harold cherished the time he spent visiting with family more than anything and his great delight was his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved to share stories about his life experiences and told about German-Russian immigrants (as were his grandparents) who farmed in Berrien County and worked in the peppermint fields and stills. He loved his grandmother's homemade sausage and noodles and told how farming was done with horses in his youth. Harold always has a smile, a welcome, and a story for everyone. Harold is survived by three sons, Harold (Janet) Freehling Jr, of Norwalk, OH, Melvin (Laura) Freehling and David (Linda) Freehling, both of Baroda; a former son-in-law, Grant Nash of Benton Harbor; ten grandchildren, Wendy Hoffman, Joel (Paula) Freehling, Bret Freehling, Melissa Heronema, Shawn (Tammi) Freehling, Heather Freehling, Patrick (Teri) Freehling, Timothy (Roberta) Freehling, Rebecca Gowan, and Aaron Nash; nine great-grandchildren, Brooke Hoffman, Aidan McAllister, Marissa and Natalie Freehling, Kayla, Jade, and Andrew Gowan, Miriam Freehling, and Amelia Nash and two more due in 2017; two great great grandchildren, Cade and Carmen Stephens; his sister-in-law, Mary R. Freehling, Baroda; a brother-in-law, Richard C. Clark, Buchanan; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Wilma (Backus) Freehling in 2008; their twin son, Marvin Freehling in 1949; their daughter, Beverly Nash in 2004; his brother, Henry R. (Dick) Freehling, Sr.; his sisters, Marie E. Clark and Dorothy F. Backus; and his parents. Visitation will be 4 - 7 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Funeral services will be at 11 am on November 23, 2016 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior at 10 am. Burial will follow at Weesaw Twp Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1733 W. Glendora Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com. As Harold used to pray in German, "Komm Herr Jesu!" ("Come, Lord Jesus!")