Frieda Marie (Gebhardt) Wells

                Frieda Marie Gebhardt was born July 11th, 1939 in Doc Hill office in Lavern, the 4^th child of Richard Max Gebhardt and Gertrude Wanda (Gunther) Gebhardt, German immigrants who fled Germany in the 1920s because of Richard’s Vocal opposition to Adolph Hitler!

                They arrived at Ellis Island and then proceeded to a farm east of Laverne, of his brother Paul Gebhardt.  Later, Richard and Gertrude and by then their family of 4 moved to a farm in the Speermore Community, eventually selling their farm and moving to Chicago for the work opportunities and final to Ashland, Ohio, where Richard farmed and worked as a machinist!

                Frieda graduated from Ashland High in 1957, attended business college for a short time before becoming a private secretary. In the fall of 1959 she met Earl Wells as she was visiting her brother and family and her sister and family, while here she fed Earl some homemade pizza, this was the beginning of a long-distance courtship, which Earl after having met Frieda’s mom said I must marry this woman, She may turn out to be just like her mother, soon May 6, 1962, Earl and Frieda  tied the knot. For 57 years and 7 days, she changed from being a private secretary to being a Go Fer – a taxi driver – a mother -a wonderful cook – even washing animals at the stock shows for her children, following her children’s sporting events, if her kids were  in it she was gonna be there! She loved crafts and made many afghans to give as wedding gifts and made many crafts to give as gifts!

                She was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, after a tough battle, she was finally declared cancer free.

Then in 2011, she was told she had Alzheimer’s which she bravely battled, finally needing caretaker’s besides Earl, to each of you and you know who you are, we the family says “Thank you so much for a job well done!”

                Frieda was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters; Hanna and Edith, a brother; Arthur and niece; Barbara.

                Frieda left this earth Monday morning May 13^th very peacefully with Earl and Kristine by her side, Richard had spent the night by her side!

                Surviving her are husband Earl, son Richard, daughters Kristine and Susanne. Grandchildren Danielle, Jessica, J.C., and Taren. Great grandchildren Chandler, Jackson, and Brooklynn. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

                Also, card playing buddies for over 50 years Dale & Marlene Hester, Denny & Evelyn Nelson, Wayne & Marilyn Jones, Harold & Susan Schuster, Frank Jane & late Judy Lemmons, Robert & Carol Mulbery, Kenneth & Mary Lu Mulbery, and Ted & Letha Thimling.