Mary Ann Freiberg

On September 1, 1935, Gerrit and Mina (Steele) Kulicamp of Muskegon, Michigan, were thrilled at the birth of their third child, Mary Ann. She was soon toddling after her brother Bob and sister Maxine as well as learning to fish and garden from her adoring father. Growing up, she heard stories of her mother's immigration from Scotland and had the privilege of learning how to cook and tend house from Mina. Mary Ann's father worked at Lakey Foundry and also raised a variety of show pigeons. Mary Ann walked to Moon Elementary School and went on to attend Muskegon Middle School and High School where she was a cheerleader. When she was fourteen, the family was blessed with another baby, Dennis, and Mary Ann loved to take him everywhere. After graduation, she began work at CWA Insurance Agency but soon went to work for Sealed Power. Just six blocks away from Mary Ann's house, a boy named Bob Freiberg was also growing, learning, and attending the same schools in the class just behind Mary Ann. He played Big Red football while Mary Ann was cheering for them, but the two never met until after graduation. They were introduced at a party Bob attended. Bob thought Mary Ann was fun and interesting, but he was already spoken for. But he saw Mary Ann regularly as he and girlfriend Suzy would pass her waiting for the bus for work, while they drove to the college! Suzy wasn't a long-term fixture in his life, however, and when Bob and Mary Ann met again at another party, he fell head over heels for her. On April 3, 1956, Bob and Mary Ann lived through one of the most destructive natural events in Michigan's history. An F5 tornado ripped through West Michigan and additional storms plagued the region, including baseball sized hail in the Muskegon area, totaling Mary's 1949 Ford and Bob's beloved 1948 Mercury. They determined to face all other storms of life together, and on June 21, 1957, Bob and Mary exchanged vows, beginning a journey together that lasted for over forty-eight years. Bob hooked up a twenty-seven foot trailer to his '54 Ford and hauled their first home to Big Rapids. They didn't stay there long, however, as Sealed Power closed their Muskegon division and offered Mary Ann a job at a new plant in Indiana. Since they were expecting a baby soon, they decided that the security of her job was worth the move. Bob enrolled at Fort Wayne Technical College while Mary Ann stayed in Muskegon until little Rhonda was born. The family settled in Goshen, Bob working at Chase Bag and Mary Ann at Sealed Power all while she cared for the new baby and took in other people's laundry in order to help out with family finances! In February of 1961, Bob and Mary Ann had a son, Bill. A few months later, they learned Bob's parents were ill and help was needed in the family business, the Tip Top Tavern. They returned to Muskegon and Mary Ann and Bob channeled all their energy into the tavern. Mary Ann was wonderfully supportive, and helping out at the tavern gave her an outlet for her sometimes dark sense of humor, such as the running joke she started when a flag from a funeral procession would find its way to the cars of various tavern patrons! She also worked at other jobs, including the Brunswick Corporation, the Howmet Corporation, and Michigan Plastics. She eventually retired from both Howmet and Michigan Plastics. The job Mary Ann loved above all was motherhood. She made sure that her children knew how much she cared about them by being involved with all their activities. She helped out at their schools and was a troop leader for the Brownies, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts. Her talents as a seamstress insured that the kids always had impressive Halloween costumes. She encouraged compassion in her children by taking in every stray animal they brought home to her. Mary Ann had many skills that made their house a home, comfortable and clean. She kept their yard and garden immaculate and became known to her family as the "Spot Master," since she never met a stain she couldn't beat. Her cooking was superb and on Sundays and holidays she prepared literal feasts. No meal was complete, however, until she brought out her final offering and asked, "Melon?" In later years, Mary Ann and Bob joined a local travel club that owned a DC-3 with a reputation for being less than reliable. On one trip to Florida, a door popped open right after take off and they had to hold themselves down in their seats until landing in Grand Rapids. The door was shut and the trip continued. It was worth it, since they were able to see Bart Starr lead Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers to a 33-14 win over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II at the Orange Bowl. Bob and Mary Ann took their motor home on several hunting and fishing treks through northern Michigan and the northeastern United States. They spent countless hours on waters closer to home, sailing on the Great Lakes and even taking the kids on a one-month cruise. They later bought a home on Muskegon Lake that satisfied Mary Ann's desire for fishing in both the summer and winter. She loved cutting a hole in the ice, watching the line from the house, and putting fresh fish on the table. Mary Ann enjoyed casinos, but nothing compared to her love for antiquing, and Bob has a garage full of her finds as proof of her zeal. But as much as she enjoyed finding her treasures, she valued people more. She was a faithful friend and was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. In the fall of 2002, the whole family received a shock when Mary Ann was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given only a few months to live. Mary Ann had other plans, however, and traveled to the Cleveland Clinic where she underwent experimental treatments that shrank the tumor. She was thrilled and determined to fight the disease, but on Halloween of 2004, another blow tested her resolve. She suffered a stroke and was left paralyzed on one side of her body. Despite the fact that she was told she would never walk again, within a month she was back on her feet. Mary Ann loved completely and without reserve. She showered her "spoiled rotten," little Maltese, Poopsie, with affection in much the same way that she doted on her children and grandchildren, especially Addam to whom she was extremely close. She leaves her loved ones with the example of a woman who lived life with no regrets, who loved openly and liberally, and who faced difficulties with remarkable courage and perseverance. Mary Ann died Friday, March 24, 2006. She is survived by her husband, Robert; children, William (Krista) Freiberg and Rhonda Freiberg; grandchildren, Addam Kearney, Justin (Krystal) Fogle, and Briana and Colton Fogle; sister, Maxine (Clieve) Hendrick; and brothers, Robert (Judy) Kulicamp and Dennis (Carol) Kulicamp. She was preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law, Frank and Ruth Freiberg. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 28, from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. at the Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 29, at 1:00 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church with Rev. Glenn Wagner officiating. Interment will be at Laketon Township Cemetery. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers, or make a memorial contribution to Hope Lodge in Cleveland.