Vernita Marie Frese Baumgartner, 93, of Fremont was born September 2, 1932, in Nora Springs, Iowa, and departed this life to be with our Lord on September 18, 2025.
The youngest of three daughters born to George and Julia (Ueker) Frese, Vernita grew up on the family farm outside of Nora Springs, surrounded by a closely-knit extended family. She attended both elementary school and high school in Nora Springs, participating in 4-H, theater, chorus, and Luther League at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.
After graduating Valedictorian of her class, she attended Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa, where she enrolled in business and secretarial courses. It was during her freshman year at Wartburg that she met senior theology student Jewayne (Joe) Baumgartner. They were married the following June before moving to Dubuque, Iowa, where Joe attended and graduated from Wartburg Theological Seminary.
During their 70 years of marriage, Joe and Vernita lived in Dubuque and Burlington, Iowa, Denver, Colorado, and Wichita and Oberlin, Kansas. For the last 50 years they lived in Fremont. During those years, Pastor Joe and Vernita were blessed to serve in the congregations of Bluffs Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont; Resurrection Lutheran Church, Ames; and St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, North Bend. Upon retirement, they joined the church family of Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont.
Vernita’s career was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker, as well as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, choir member, gardener, and antiques collector. Vernita and Joe spent many happy hours attending farm and estate sales, and combing through antique stores and flea markets. Vernita also enjoyed bowling with her husband on the church bowling team, camping with her family, working in her flower beds, refinishing furniture, and quilting with the Bluffs Trinity women.
Vernita was preceded in death by her husband, Jewayne, and sisters Lois Moffet and Nadine McCombs. She is survived by three children: Jeff (Susan) Baumgartner of Fremont, Susan (Robert) Moore of Colleyville Texas, and Julie (Paul) Zucker of Austin Texas, as well as grandchildren Nathan Baumgartner of Fremont, Mark (Maggi) Baumgartner of Omaha, Anne (Nathan) Greeley of Marion Indiana, and Kathrine (Austin) Hubbert of Houston. Also surviving are niece Sandra (Doug) Beckman of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, and nephews Rev. Ronald (Linda) Beckman of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kevin (Kathy) McCombs of Cedar Falls Iowa, and David (Bobbi) McCombs of Morrison Colorado.
The funeral service to be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Peace Lutheran Church, Fremont. Private burial will be prior in the Bluffs Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to Peace Lutheran Church or Bluffs Trinity Lutheran Church.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
