Funeral services held for former district president
Filed Under: Nebraska
Funeral services were held today for Rev. Gerald Free, former president of WELS Nebraska District and former WELS first and second vice president. Free, 77, died Feb. 12 in an Appleton, Wis., hospital of complications from leukemia—he had been diagnosed with the disease on Jan. 18.
Free served six congregations in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin—he served as Nebraska District President from 1968-1985.
Rev. Joel Frank, current president of the Nebraska District, grew up in Hoskins, Neb., just seven miles from where Free was serving at the time. He says his own father and Pastor Free most influenced him to go into the ministry. Frank would later serve in the Nebraska District during Free's years as president.
"He was deeply respected," recalls Frank. "He was kind of a legend out here." Frank says that "privilege" was Free's favorite word. "He would remind us again and again that it was a privilege to serve in the ministry. None of us deserved it—to serve was a gift from God."
Frank remembers Free as an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan who had an infectious laugh—and who often put his sense of humor to work for the good of God's kingdom. "He had a way of defusing problems and getting people to work together. It was a gift."
Free is survived by his wife, Judith, two sons who are both WELS pastors, three daughters, and 16 grandchildren.
