Freda Mae McKinnon

Freda Mae McKinnon, 95, of New London, passed away on November 26, 2018, at New London Specialty Care surrounded by her family. Born May 23, 1923, she was the daughter of Walter and Loren Elliott Preuss. She was a 1940 graduate of New London High School and a 1944 graduate of Mercy Hospital's Nurses Training in Burlington, Iowa. Freda joined the United States Cadet Nurses' Corps. during World War II and was stationed in both Chicago and Boston. She received a Quilt of Valor on September 17, 2017. She married Jerry Norton McKinnon on May 11, 1944, in New London. Freda worked at both the Mt. Pleasant and Burlington Hospitals. In the 60s, she was the New London School nurse. When she was in her 50s she returned to college and received her teaching degree from Iowa Wesleyan. She substitute taught at Mediapolis, Yarmouth, Huron, Sperry, and New London. She also taught at SCC in the medical assistant program. She continued nursing part-time at the New London Care Center well into her 70s. She sometimes worked at Primary Oil Company, the family business, along side her husband and son until it was sold in the 1990s. Freda was a Boy Scout Den Mother and accompanied contest s...[more]

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ists and groups on the piano. She was a member of the Ricordo Club, T.T.T., and Eastern Star. She was a 50+ member of the New London Presbyterian Church and played the piano for services for many years. She and her husband delivered Meals on Wheels. Freda loved New London and her home. Endowed with the gift of hospitality, she was a terrific cook. She was a beloved member of the community and was Citizen of the Year and Grand Marshall of the New London Day Parade. She was always the first one to volunteer to help someone in need. She and her husband enjoyed the theater and Burlington Civic Music. She is survived by her daughter, Connie (Paul) Koehler of Sun Lakes, Arizona and her son, Jerry (Irma) McKinnon of New Braunfels, Texas; one grandson Ken (Julia) Koehler of Glenview, Illinois; and five great-grandchildren, Olivia and Grant Koehler and Christian, Justin and Ryan Tobar; two brothers Ted of West Burlington and Don of Table Rock Lake, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Mervin Raines. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband on March 25, 2008, her son Greg, and two grandsons, Phillip and Michael McKinnon. Services will be Friday, November 30, 2018, at Elliott Chapel, New London. The family will receive friends from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m., with the service at 11 a.m. There will be a private family burial at Burge Cemetery later in the day. Memorials have been established for the New London Veterans' Memorial, New London Specialty Care, Dover Museum, and Great River Hospice House.