January 3, 1940 ~ December 25, 2025
Elaine Ann Freerksen, 85, of Riceville, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at the Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center.
Elaine was born on January 3, 1940, the daughter of Norbert and Theresa (Wettstein) Hughes. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mel’s Catholic Church in McIntire. She attended Bailey School and graduated from McIntire High School in 1958.
On June 11, 1960, Elaine was united in marriage to Larry Freerksen. They lived in the Riceville, Iowa and LeRoy, Minnesota areas, eventually purchasing the family farm south of LeRoy in 1973. They filled their home with love and laughter while also instilling the values of hard work and education. She was an excellent cook and baker; her open-door hospitality led to many drop-in guests. She was always busy: helping Larry with the dairy farm chores, maintaining a huge garden (canning and freezing everything), and crafting, but especially providing a place of warmth and safety for her family. She was patient, kind, humble and generous, and her laughter brought joy to those around her.
Elaine loved playing (and winning) games. After raising her family, her passion became creating quilts. She completed and gifted over 100 beautiful quilts to kids and grandkids.
Preceding Elaine in death include her parents, brother Everett Hughes, son Donald, daughter Vicki, daughter-in-law Cindy, and grandsons Kevin & Kyle.
Those left to mourn her passing and celebrate her life include her husband Larry, son-in-law Michael Hungerford, daughters Patty (Scott) Priebe, Kelly (Paul) Swinton, Kristen (Jeffry) Jones, and son Jason (Heather) Freerksen, fifteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be directed to the Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center nursing staff who lovingly cared for Elaine.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the Hindt- Hudek Funeral Home in Riceville with Fr. Gregory Parrott officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Wayne Cemetery, rural McIntire, Iowa.
Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Riceville is assisting the family.
hindtfuneralhomes.com