Norman was born in North Dakota near Westby, MT on April 1, 1925 to John and Christine Freund. He graduated from Westby High School in 1943 and entered the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific from 1943 46. He graduated from Dana College (Blair, NE) and went to Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He met and married Esther Olesen (Racine, WI) in Council Bluffs, IA on May 28, 1955. Norman and Esther enjoyed a loving marriage and traveled widely across the US and abroad until her death in 2010. Pastor Freund served a number of congregations during his life-long ministry in the Lutheran Church, including St. Mark's, St. Paul, NE ('58-'62), St. John's, Cushing, NE ('58-'60), First Lutheran, Poy Sippi, WI and St. John's, Saxville, WI ('62-'67), Bethlehem Lutheran, Brush, CO ('67-'82), Christ Lutheran, Sedalia, MO ('82-'90), Faith Lutheran, Madison, MN ('90-'97) and First Lutheran, Fremont, NE ('97 present).
He is survived by his sister Jeanette Hanen (Fremont, NE), son Ronald (Denver, CO) and his wife, Doris, son Randy (Vining, MN) and his wife Stephanie, and daughter Marcia Garcia (Racine, WI) and her husband Jorge, sister-in-law Helen Freund (Sun City, AZ), brother-in-law Terry Mendenhall (Pittsburg, KS) and many nieces and nephews. Norman also leaves six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Beyond his relatives, he was loved by many in his church and community. Memorials can be made to the ELCA World Hunger or Lutheran Family Services of Fremont.
The memorial service will be 4pm, Saturday, September 28 at First Lutheran Church in Fremont, the Rev. Marty Tollefson will officiate. A light meal will be served, then a time of celebration and remembrance will follow.
Private family committal will be in Memorial Cemetery.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(2)
Sally Anderson
Highlands Ranch, CO Monday, September 30, 2019 Dear Family of Pastor Norm,My sincere sympathy to all of you! Pastor Norm was a great friend and minister of the Word! I worked with him at First Lutheran and after moving to Colorado in 2000, he kept in contact with me every year by calls and Christmas letters. He will be missed, always a smile and kind word. Rest in Peace Norm.
Sally Anderson
Joy Freund
Rockville, MD Saturday, September 28, 2019 Rest In Peace thou good servant! Rest In Peace. I know you are having a wonderful reunion in heaven with the Freund family including my dad Marvel Freund!