Freda McCracken
Freda McCracken
Freda McCracken
December 15, 1917 – February 24, 2016
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 98
Freda Marie McCracken, 98, of Oskaloosa, died Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa. Freda was born December 15, 1917, at Kirkville, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Nellie Ross Akins.
Freda graduated from Kirkville High School with the class of 1935. Following high school, she attended college at William Penn and later Iowa State Teacher College. Upon completing college, Freda taught country school in Wapello County.
On February 15, 1946, she was united in marriage to (Glenn) Willard McCracken at Kirkville. They had three sons. Willard died October 24, 2008.
Following their marriage, Freda stayed home to care for her family and home. In 1961, the family moved to Ainsworth, Iowa. Once the boys were through with high school, Freda went to work as a secretary at the elementary school in Ainsworth. She was there for 15 years before she retired. In 2000, Freda and Willard moved to Oskaloosa.
Freda and Willard took great joy in helping people of the community celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries with his trumpet. Freda would dial the phone and hold it up, Willard would play the appropriate song on his trumpet, then they would hang up. The two of them enjoyed doing this together for many years.
She also enjoyed tending to her flower garden and going to water aerobics. She was an active member of the Methodist Church, first at Kirkville, then Ainsworth, and last Central United Methodist Church in Oskaloosa. She delighted in spending time with her family and friends.
Freda is survived by her two sons: Gene McCracken (& Judy Davis) of Des Moines and Scott (& Sherry) McCracken of Dumas, Texas; a daughter-in-law (son Wayne’s widow), Joann Young of Des Moines; five grandchildren: Padraic (& Nisan), Kelly (& Jack), Mitchell (& Brittany), Tyler (& Katie), and Cynthia; six great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Beverly and Lois McCracken; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.
In addition to her husband, Freda was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Wayne McCracken; a brother, Dan Akins; and a sister, Vivian Siegrist.
As a final act of generosity, Freda donated her body to the Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the Central United Methodist Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Bruce Wittern officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Freda McCracken Memorial fund and will be divided amongst the Central United Methodist Church, Ainsworth Community Church and the Oskaloosa Public Library.
The Bates Funeral Chapel is entrusted with the arrangements.
