John Henry Freauff and Helen May Appleman
John Henry Freauff (Johann Heinrich) was born February 10, 1908 in Norka,Russia. He departed Bremen, Germany on May 30, 1908 on 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 were living on a farm in Boring, Clackamas County, Oregon. with John’s parents. John was then working 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 all the way 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 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 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 were living on a farm in Boring, Clackamas County, Oregon. with John’s parents. John was then working 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 all the way 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 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 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.
Sources
This article was contributed by Georgia Hohnstein Conway.
Last updated January 26, 2022