IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Linda Freeland
Linda K. Freeland, 70, died Aug. 5, 2019, at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, Kansas.
She was born to Dale Renberger and Dolores (Nuss) Renberger on April 13, 1949, in Hays, Kansas. She graduated from McPherson High School in 1967.
Linda married David E. Freeland on Jan. 10, 1971, in McPherson. Son Paul David was born Feb. 15, 1975, and son Michael Robert was born Sept. 28, 1979.
Linda received her degree in early childhood education from Kansas State University in May 1971. She owned her own preschool, Four Seasons Preschool, for nearly 40 years, and retired in spring 2017. She taught more than 1,400 children as a preschool teacher. She loved teaching the 3, 4, and 5-year-olds to prepare them for kindergarten, but perhaps the thing she was most proud of was teaching them sign language.
Her Christian faith was central to her life, and she was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Salina. Her favorite Bible verse was Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Linda spent many summers compiling elaborate scrapbooks for her sons and families. She loved her family dearly and enjoyed every holiday, with Christmas being her favorite. Among her annual contributions to her family’s Thanksgiving Day celebrations in Manhattan were “pink fluffy salad” — a family favorite — and chocolate brownies. She also brought along Pepsi for her immediate family because she knew the rest of the family preferred Coke.
Linda shared in Dave’s love of all things Pepsi as they have a “Pepsi room” in their home to hold the various Pepsi memorabilia they collected over the years.
She and Dave were regular season ticket-holders to K-State football games and loved tailgating with family. She enjoyed wearing purple to show her support for the Wildcats — but also because she looked good in that color.
Dave and Linda traveled frequently to Colorado when their sons were small to enjoy fishing trips and Freeland and Renberger family reunions. They also traveled to California several times and to Dallas to visit Paul and family. Their most recent family trip was to the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky with Michael and family.
Dave and other family members remarked that Linda accepted her breast cancer diagnosis with grace. Throughout the 22 months since her diagnosis in October 2017, she has been able to enjoy family activities, attend her grandkids’ sport events, and go to community theatre programs.
Survivors include husband Dave; son Paul and wife Rachel of Melissa, Texas and their children Sydney, Chase and Erynn; son Michael and wife Kristina of Salina and their children, Gabriel, Dominic and Oliver; sister Alana and husband Larry Schafer of Salina; brother Terry and wife Estelle of McPherson; sister-in-law Gloria Freeland and husband Art Vaughan of Manhattan; sister-in-law Gaila Freeland de Chambi and husband Humberto Chambi of La Paz, Bolivia; six nieces and four nephews.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her father-in-law Edgar Freeland, her mother-in-law Edla (Mostrom) Freeland; her brother-in-law Jerome Johanning; and her grandparents.
A memorial service was Friday, Aug. 9, at the First Baptist Church of Salina. Burial was at Roselawn Cemetery following the service.
Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church of Salina, The Greater Salina Community Foundation’s Linda K. Freeland Scholarship, which goes to Salina students who plan to study early childhood education, or to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center.
Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th St., Salina, was in charge of funeral arrangements.