Jules M. Fretheim

Jules M. Fretheim, age 87, of Decorah, IA, died Sunday morning, February 28, 2010 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 4, 2010 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah by Rev. Marion Pruitt-Jefferson with burial in Madison Lutheran Cemetery in rural Ridgeway, IA. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 3 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Thursday one hour before the service at the church. Jules Marian Fretheim was born February 20, 1923 on the family farm near Ridgeway, Iowa, the son of Joel K. and Emma T. (Monson) Fretheim. Jules was baptized on April 1, 1923 and confirmed at the Madison Lutheran Church. He attended Madison #4 Country School and Ridgeway High School. Jules married Gertrude Malli on February 23, 1946 and to this union three children were born: Linda, Martha and Gary. Jules and Gertrude farmed in Glenwood Township for seven years and they were later divorced. Jules had a business in Michigan for several years, and then moved to Florida where he operated a tractor trailer. Upon returning to Decorah, Jules owned and operated Jules Office Inn. Later he returned to over the road trucking, operating Fretheim Supply. He enjoyed over 35 years of trucking. On February 14, 1976, Jules married Eileen C. (Stortz) Jaastad at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. Jules never lost his love of farming and enjoyed collecting tractors. He looked forward to watching the crops and flowers grow, and keeping track of the cattle and markets. He was an avid reader, enjoyed his morning McDonald's coffee group, followed sports and racing, and his old favorite programs on TV. Music and dancing was a big part of his life, and he loved visiting with people. Jules was admitted into Aase Haugen Home on Friday, February 26, 2010. Jules was preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Emma; his second wife: Eileen on March 11, 1995; two brothers: Rev. Ardel (Tess) Aleson in 1999 and Lyle Fretheim in 2009; three brothers-in-law: Robert Stortz in 1995, Darwin Ellingson in 2000 and William Bothe in 2004; and four nephews: Jeffrey Fretheim in 1958, Mitchell Fretheim in 1988, James Vangsness in 1994 and Randy Stortz in 1999. Jules is survived by two daughters: Linda Seegmiller, Rochester, MN and Martha Carlson, Kansas City, MO; one son: Gary (Jane) Seegmiller of Rochester, MN; five grandchildren: Nicole (Nick) McNallan of Kansas City, MO, Joshua Carlson of Portland, OR, Jesse (Courtney) Seegmiller, Jenna Seegmiller and Kari Seegmiller, all of Rochester, MN; four great-grandchildren: Hayden and Sophia McNallan and Sydney and Trenton Seegmiller; five sisters: Ruth (Ken) Nesset, Decorah, IA, Hazel Stortz, Decorah, IA, Jane (Phil) Pape, Spring Hill, FL, Doris (Howard) Schutz, Scottsdale, AZ and Shirley (Lee) Vangsness, Decorah, IA; three brothers: Stanley (Delores) Fretheim, Ridgeway, IA, Joel Fretheim, Cedar Rapids, IA and Emory (Elaine) Fretheim, Decorah, IA; along with many nieces and nephews.