Raymond William Freese was born on December 17, 1934, to Hermann Emil
and Lydia Dorothea (Giessmann) Freese in Cappeln, Missouri. He went to be with
the Lord at St. Joseph's Hospital West, in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, on March
11, 2012. Visitation will be at Pitman Funeral Home, in Wentzville, Missouri, on
Thursday, March 15, 2012, from 4-8pm. Funeral services will be held at St.
John's United Church of Christ, in Cappeln, Missouri, on Friday, March 16, 2012,
at 2pm. Raymond married Celia Ann Staubach, daughter of Charles Neff and Addelle
(Mysen) Staubach, on August 10, 1957, at The Chapel, in Columbia, Missouri.
Raymond attended the University of Missouri – Columbia from 1952 – 1961,
receiving Bachelors degrees in General Agriculture and Secondary Education, he
additionally received his Masters and PhD in Mathematics. When Raymond graduated
from MU, he accepted his life long position at St. Louis University, as a
Professor of Mathematics. He especially enjoyed teaching Basic Algebra to
incoming Freshman. Raymond mentored 19 Graduate Students through to the
completion of their PhD. He served as the Chairman of the Mathematics and
Computer Science Department for over 15 years, including introducing computers
to the Math Department in the late 1960s. Raymond had 48 journal articles
published throughout his career, and co-authored one mathematics text book. The
church was always important to Raymond. He began teaching Sunday School at St.
John's while in High School. By the age of 18 he was serving as the Sunday
School Superintendent. He was active in The Chapel, at the University of
Missouri – Columbia, serving in several local and regional official capacities,
and active in the community service of the church. Upon returning from college,
Raymond proceeded to take an active role at St. John's, again serving in local,
regional, and national official capacities. This service led him to his
extensive work with Emmaus Homes and Eden Seminary. In 2009, Raymond received an
Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters for his dedicated service. Raymond is
survived by his wife, Celia, of 55 years; his sons, Carl-Hermann Freese, and
wife, Elaine Jaspering, of Foristell, Missouri, William Charles Freese, and
wife, Kathy Flower, of Columbia, Missouri, and Timothy Carl Alverson Freese, and
wife Cindy Alverson, of Columbia, Missouri; his grandchildren, Thor and Raven
Freese, of Foristell, Missouri, Kyle and Shannon Freese, of Columbia, Missouri,
Kirstin Alverson, Jessica and Joshuah Alverson Freese of Columbia, Missouri. He
is further survived by his sister, Mabel Busdieker, of Laddonia, Missouri. There
are also numerous nieces and nephews. The family appreciates your continued
prayers and support, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in
honor of Raymond to be sent to the Eden Seminary-Scholarship Fund, St. John's
United Church of Christ, and Emmaus Homes in Marthasville. For more of Raymond's
history visit www.freese.net/raymond
from Pitman funeral home 2012