Back: Karen, Margaret
Front: John holding "Misty"
In 1898, at the age of fourteen, Henry Frees, Sr. immigrated from Germany to America with his parents and two of five siblings. They settled in the Irwin area.
Anna Passig was born in Oversay, Germany, in 1897. Her parents died when she was very young and consequently she lived with other family members while growing up. Mr. and Mrs. Claus Struve, who had been visiting in Germany, returned to America in 1915 accompanied by Anna. She worked in the Manning/Irwin area for several years.
Henry Frees and Anna Passig were married on June 18, 1918. They were the parents of Henry Jr. (deceased), Denison; Lillie Essler, Chicago; Margaret (Trumph) Rohrbach (deceased), Chicago; Erna (Muhlbauer) Odendahl, Manning; and John, Manning. John was born on April 22, 1930. He received his elementary education at the country school not far from his home. He then attended and graduated from the Irwin High School in 1949.
John resided with his parents on the family farm southeast of Irwin until 1950 when they moved to Manning. John worked as parts man for Steenhusen Implement in Irwin. He then worked at a Manning elevator until 1959 when he purchased the feed business from retiring Lloyd Rix. John began working as Manning City Clerk on February 1, 1965. Since retiring January 1, 1995, he enjoys bird-watching, reading, TV, visiting with friends, and getting out for a ride several times a week.
Margaret Lutwitze was born September 11, 1924, to Frank J. Lutwitze and Anna (Dentlinger) Lutwitze in Dedham, Iowa. Frank was born in 1896 at Templeton, Iowa. Anna was born in 1896 near Arcadia, Iowa. Grandfather, Anton Lutwitze was born in 1868 in Marengo, Iowa. Grandmother, Hannah (Kramer) Lutwitze was born in 1872 at New Vienna, Iowa. Both Anton and Hannah's parents were of German descent. Maternal grandfather, Johann Dentlinger, was born in 1850 in Germany. He immigrated to America as a youth. Maternal grandmother, Thresia (Ratke) Dentlinger was born in Bradford, Illinois, in April 1858.
Margaret attended elementary school in Dedham and Templeton. She graduated from St. Thomas L.P.N. School of Nursing in Marshalltown December 1949. It was the first L.P.N. School in Iowa at that time. She spent some years working in Le Mars, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska, before returning to Manning General Hospital to work. Margaret retired in April 1995 after 41 years employment there. She enjoys sewing, reading, TV, computer, andmaking rosaries for the missions.
John Frees and Margaret Lutwitze were married on November 26, 1960, and made their home in Manning. John and Margaret welcomed a daughter, Karen Ann to their home on February 3, 1962. She was born at Manning General Hospital. Karen attended Manning Elementary School and graduated from M.H.S. in May 1980. She received her B.A. degree from ISU in Ames in 1984 and went on to get her MSS W and LICSW from Wisconsin University at Madison, Wisconsin. Karen is a Pediatric Clinical Social Worker at Courage Rehab Center, Golden Valley, Minnesota, and resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.