Martha Teresa Frerichs

Martha Teresa Frerichs, 89, of Sioux City passed away with her daughter by her side on Friday, July 14, 2006 at a local hospital. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 17, 2006 from 3-8 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m. a vigil service will then begin at 7:00 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Reverends Richard Sitzmann and Michael Erpelding concelebrating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Martha was born on July 29, 1916 in Lincoln Township in Plymouth County to Valentine and Anne (Hieke) Sitzmann. She was the youngest of 14 children, 7 sisters and 6 brothers. Martha grew up on the family farm in Lincoln Township and attended grade school in LeMars. She graduated from high school and junior college in Cherokee. After college Martha moved to Chicago where she taught grade school for 3 years. She then moved to Dubuque, Iowa and studied nursing at St. Marys hospital and worked at a nursing home in Dubuque for 3 years. Martha returned home to help care for her aging parents. On February 6, 1947 she married John C. Frerichs at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City on her parents 54th wedding anniversary. She then became a homemaker and mother to their daughter Mary Ann Frerichs ODell. Martha was active in her church, St. Joseph where she was a member of the Alter Society, Franciscan Footnotes Guild. She also belonged to Carmelite Society, Queen of Peace and American legion Auxiliary Post 376.

Martha is survived by her daughter, Mary Ann ODell of South Sioux City, NE: 2 grandsons, Justin and Alex ODell and their father Dave all of South Sioux City, NE: 1 sister Lorette Medart of St. Louis, MO: also by several nieces and nephews.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, husband John in Jan. 2000, 6 brothers: Leo, Gregory, Arnold, Anton, Victor, and Valentine, 6 sisters: Delia Wormly, Theresa Kessenich, Matilda Meacham, Margaret Fass, Mary Roepke and Olivia Hoffman, and her special friend from Houston, Mary Louise Thompson.

In lieu of flowers memorials contributions may be sent to the Carmelites or Queen of Peace in Sioux City.