Freda Marguerite Book (Schoberg)

SIOUX CITY -- Freda Marguerite Sokolowski Book, 83, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel Gunther officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil wake service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .
Freda was born Oct. 10, 1928, in Sioux City, to John and Freda (Thompson) Schoberg. She was raised in Oto, Iowa, then moved to Sioux City. She attended East High School, graduating in 1947. Freda attended Iowa Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, earning her teaching certification. She later earn her bachelor's degree in education from Morningside College in 1970.
On Sept. 4, 1951, Freda was united in marriage to Henry Sokolowski at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City. Henry passed away in 1974. She married LaVerne "Vern" Book in 1988, in Sioux City. Vern passed away in 1993.
Freda began her elementary teaching career in Oto and at country schools with the Woodbury County School District. She took a few years off while Henry and she started their family. She returned to teaching in the early 1960s with positions at St. Francis, Blessed Sacrament, Hunt and Sunnyside Schools in Sioux City. Following her retirement, she substitute taught primarily at Hunt School, which she considered home. One of her fondest memories of her career was long after she retired. She was contacted by four of her former Hunt School students. She met them and former Hunt School principal Helen Willenburg at Green Gables and enjoyed reminiscing with them about their school years at Hunt and catching up with what happened in their lives.
Through her years with Henry, the family enjoyed many annual vacations planned by Freda, as she loved to travel. She enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren.
Freda enjoyed quilting immensely. Many of her works were given as gifts or for fundraising. She was very proud of the two blue ribbons she earned at the Woodbury County Fair for her quilts. She enjoyed quilt shop hops with her daughters and was an economic stimulus package for many of the small Midwest towns that had quilt shops. Her day had not officially begun until she had her cup of coffee and completed the Journal crossword puzzle (in ink). She was a Denver Broncos fan and loved her Duke Blue Devils and coach K. She was quite the dancer, attending dances weekly with Vern and their many friends. "Dancing with the Stars" was must-see TV for her. She loved to bake and cook. Being Polish by marriage, she made sure she learned how to cook traditional Polish foods from the women at St. Francis parish. She has passed these traditions on to her daughters and granddaughters.
One of her wishes was to remain healthy in order to see her granddaughters grow into successful young women. She will be with us always in spirit, wherever life takes us.
Freda leaves behind to cherish her memory three daughters, Ellen Sokolowski (Roger Carter) of Atlantic, Iowa, Debra (David) Molstad of Moville, Iowa, and Mary (James) Hart of Castle Rock, Colo.; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Hart of Denver, and Gabrielle Hart of Omaha; two sisters, Martha (Keith) Seehusen of Sioux City, and Ann Marie (Ambrose) Kellen of Coldspring, Texas; a sister-in-law, Irma Sokolowski of Danbury, Iowa; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and dear friends old and new.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and two husbands.