Frieda Bertha Maahs

Frieda Bertha Maahs, the daughter of Fred and Laura (Reitz) Riepe, was born on July 29, 1911, in Arapahoe, Nebraska. She graduated from Arapahoe Public High School in 1929, and taught school near Arapahoe for a year. Frieda then clerked in a general store for two years. On April 29, 1933, she married Walter Julius Earnest Maahs in Arapahoe. The couple farmed near Arapahoe until 1942, when they moved to Lexington, Nebraska. In 1953, they moved to Gibbon, Nebraska, where they lived until their retirement in 1975. Walter and Frieda then made their home in Kearney, Nebraska. Walter died on May 12, 1996, in Kearney. Frieda remained in their Kearney home until 1998, when she moved to Harlan, Iowa. In November, 2001, Frieda became a resident of the Elm Crest Retirement Community.

Frieda was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan. She enjoyed hard work and had a strong work ethic. Frieda kept busy with church and ladies aid activities, and enjoyed cooking, making ceramics, and quilting.

Frieda B. Maahs died on Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 92 years, 9 months, and 20 days.

Preceding Frieda in death were her parents; her husband, Walter Maahs; five sisters, Minnie Wendland, Rose Hilker, Emma Wendland, Laura Wendland, and Martha Millard; and two brothers, Adam Riepe and Benhard Riepe. She is survived by one daughter, Lori Schultz of Harlan, Iowa; four grandchildren, Cynthia (William) Simmons of St. Joseph, Missouri, Carla Schultz of Dawn, Missouri, Heidi (Scott) Michael of Boone, Iowa, and Lora (Allen) Bierbaum of Ames, Iowa; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and other relatives and friends.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, May 22, 2004, at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, with Pastor Heather Ploen of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harlan, officiating. Burial of ashes will take place at a later date at the Kearney Cemetery in Kearney, Nebraska. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.