Freeman E Walz

Memorial service for Freeman E. Walz, 79, of Norfolk will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 19, 2018, at First United Methodist Church, Norfolk.  Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Norfolk.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

            Freeman Walz, a Norfolk resident of fifty-one years, passed away on the evening of February 14, 2018 following a decade-long battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Freeman was born August 29, 1938, at the old Lutheran Hospital, Norfolk. He grew up in Neligh and graduated from Neligh High School in 1956. On August 14, 1960, Freeman married Betty Pilcher in Neligh. He would go on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and a Master’s Degree from Kearney State University.

After graduating from the University of Nebraska, he taught English for six years. In 1966, Freeman and his young family moved to Norfolk from Minden when he accepted a position as Guidance Counselor at Norfolk Senior High School. He was a member of the faculty that transitioned from the old High School building into the new Sr. High School building on Riverside Blvd. In 1972 he was hired as the Assistant Dean of Student Services at Northeast Technical Community College. Then, in 1976 Freeman transitioned once again into insurance sales. Insurance would be his profession until his retirement.

In retirement, he worked for several years as Director of Development at the First United Methodist Church in Norfolk. During these years, he also served as Parish Assistant at the Pierce, Osmond, and Winside Methodist churches.

A man of boundless energy, he took great pride in his involvement with the community of Norfolk. Freeman was active in a variety of civic and professional organizations: Rotary Club (Past President), Chamber of Commerce (Ambassador and Arkfeld Award winner - 2004), Norfolk Men’s Chorus, Masonic Lodge, Northeast Nebraska Life Underwriters (Past President), Past Associate Guardian of Jobs Daughters, Board of Pensions and Health Benefits of Nebraska, Conference of the United Methodist Church (Past Chairman).

Freeman was a devoted family man and is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Betty Walz. He is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Lisa Walz. His daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Keith Palmgren. As well as his grandchildren, Zach and Abby Walz, Tyler and Ryan Scott.

The family would like to thank the people in the Norfolk area for their support and thoughtfulness toward Freeman over the past few years. We hope that you always remember Freeman for the outgoing, fun loving person he was.

 First United Methodist Church is located at 4th and Phillip Ave.

The family requests that memorials be given to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org

 Service Information