Earl Freel

Earl R. Freel, 82, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at home of a lung ailment. Earl was born to Goldia (Wheeldon) and Harry Freel on February 15, 1930 in Swan, Iowa and grew up in Runnells.

Earl married Marilyn Canfield on May 6, 1951, at the Little Brown Church. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. Earl began his banking career at Bankers Trust in 1947. Earl was employed at Altoona State Bank, later known as Community State Bank, for 31 years and served as President of the bank for many of those years.

He was a member of the King David Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Za Ga Zig Shrine (Greeters Unit), Altoona Lions Club, and Centennial United Methodist Church where he was a member of the choir. Earl served as Treasurer of the Southeast Polk School Board since the school’s inception in 1963 and as Treasurer of the Iowa State Fair’s Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (Sale of Champions).

He was a former 4-H leader who enjoyed working on his acreage and was a devoted Black and Gold fan (Southeast Polk Rams and the Iowa Hawkeyes). After retirement he spent many hours working as a conservator for estates. He enjoyed transporting children to treatment at the Shrine Hospital, helping with spin art at the State Fair, driving Shrine golf carts at the State Fair and talking to people everywhere.

Earl is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marilyn; son, Jeff (Rosemary); daughters, Joy (David) Warner, Jennifer (Gary) Fischer, and Jill (Steve) Craven; grandchildren, Allison and Jonathan Freel; Whitney and Grant Warner, Evan, Aleka, Owen and Olivia Fischer, Gunnar and Heath Methlie, and Aidan and Macy Craven; siblings, Ruth Marks, Elsie Wade, Bill (Sandy) Freel, Martha (Caryl) McClure, and David Freel; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Rex, Ray, Jack, Jim, Larry and Bob Freel; and sisters, Betty Louise Deer and Mary Ann Freel.

Visitation will be held 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Centennial United Methodist Church, 9150 University Avenue in Ivy. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2012 at Altoona United Methodist Church, 602 5th Avenue SW in Altoona. Burial with military honors will follow at Canfield Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Centennial United Methodist Church, PO Box 624, Altoona, IA 50009, Southeast Polk Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 166, Altoona, IA 50009, or Dowling Club, Dowling Catholic High School, 1400 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines, IA 50265.

Online condolences may be given at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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