John Henry Freauff and Helen May Appleman
John Henry Freauff (Johann Heinrich) was born on February 10, 1908 in Norka, Russia. He departed Bremen, Germany, on May 30, 1908, aboard the steamship Bremen along with his parents, Johann Georg Freauff and Christina Kaiser Freauff, his grandparents Carl Freauff and Elisabeth Schmer Freauff, his brother Wilhelm, uncle Conrad Freauff, and aunt Amalie Freauff. They arrived June 11, 1908, at the Port of New York. Their destination was Colorado. John was about 4 months old when his family reached America. John grew up in Colorado, where his family farmed on various acreages in Berthoud, Longmont, Boulder, and Mead from 1908 to about 1933. Sometime in 1933, the family moved to Portland, Oregon.
Helen May Appleman was born July 9, 1912, in Spokane, Washington. She was the daughter of William P. Appleman and Willa Dora Finch. Her father worked in real estate and the mercantile business. By 1930, her family had moved to Portland.
John and Helen met in Portland and were married there on November 16, 1935. In the 1940 census, the couple lived on a farm in Boring, Clackamas County, Oregon. with John’s parents. John then worked as a pressman for Doernbecher Furniture Mfg. in Portland. John and Helen soon bought a small home in Portland at 10901 NE Broadway. They lived there until Helen passed away on October 12, 1956. They had no children. My mother, Leona Mae Freauff Hohnstein, was John’s youngest sister and took care of his cleaning and laundry every week after Helen died. She and I would walk the 9 blocks from our house to Uncle Johnnie’s. My special treat there was always getting to eat buttered wheat toast with lots of maple syrup.
John married Biddie Marcella Angel on October 25, 1965, in Portland. Marcella was born November 30, 1907, in Madison, Rockingham County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Joseph Eugene Angel and Ora Vernon Adams. After their marriage, John built a new home for them on the back property of his original house, which extended to the next street. The address was 10900 NE Schuyler. Aunt Marcy was a true Southern Belle and would dress up in beautiful clothes and heels for any occasion. Marcella had 2 children plus grandchildren, and John thoroughly enjoyed his new-found family. After retiring from Consolidated Freightways in 1973 as a truck mechanic, John loved to garden, growing roses, vegetables, and berries. He took pride in the jams, jellies, and pickles he put up each year. Unfortunately, Marcella died on August 14, 1992, and is buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, Oregon.
John married Lorene Bernice Raymen on July 14, 1994, in Portland. Lorene was born June 6, 1913, in Werner, Dunn County, North Dakota. She was the daughter of Ed Raymen and Helen Sofia Fixen. John was 86, and Lorene was 81 at this marriage. They were able to spend a few years together before Lorene died on January 9, 2002. She is buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland.
John lived a long and full life. He was a good husband, son, brother, and uncle. He died May 26, 2005, and is buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland.
Helen May Appleman was born July 9, 1912, in Spokane, Washington. She was the daughter of William P. Appleman and Willa Dora Finch. Her father worked in real estate and the mercantile business. By 1930, her family had moved to Portland.
John and Helen met in Portland and were married there on November 16, 1935. In the 1940 census, the couple lived on a farm in Boring, Clackamas County, Oregon. with John’s parents. John then worked as a pressman for Doernbecher Furniture Mfg. in Portland. John and Helen soon bought a small home in Portland at 10901 NE Broadway. They lived there until Helen passed away on October 12, 1956. They had no children. My mother, Leona Mae Freauff Hohnstein, was John’s youngest sister and took care of his cleaning and laundry every week after Helen died. She and I would walk the 9 blocks from our house to Uncle Johnnie’s. My special treat there was always getting to eat buttered wheat toast with lots of maple syrup.
John married Biddie Marcella Angel on October 25, 1965, in Portland. Marcella was born November 30, 1907, in Madison, Rockingham County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Joseph Eugene Angel and Ora Vernon Adams. After their marriage, John built a new home for them on the back property of his original house, which extended to the next street. The address was 10900 NE Schuyler. Aunt Marcy was a true Southern Belle and would dress up in beautiful clothes and heels for any occasion. Marcella had 2 children plus grandchildren, and John thoroughly enjoyed his new-found family. After retiring from Consolidated Freightways in 1973 as a truck mechanic, John loved to garden, growing roses, vegetables, and berries. He took pride in the jams, jellies, and pickles he put up each year. Unfortunately, Marcella died on August 14, 1992, and is buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, Oregon.
John married Lorene Bernice Raymen on July 14, 1994, in Portland. Lorene was born June 6, 1913, in Werner, Dunn County, North Dakota. She was the daughter of Ed Raymen and Helen Sofia Fixen. John was 86, and Lorene was 81 at this marriage. They were able to spend a few years together before Lorene died on January 9, 2002. She is buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland.
John lived a long and full life. He was a good husband, son, brother, and uncle. He died May 26, 2005, and is buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland.
Source
This article was contributed by Georgia Hohnstein Conway.
Last updated October 25, 2023