Good Morning, my name is Lisa Ingles. I am JoAnn Freitag’s daughter. I am here honoring my mom on behalf of myself, my brother Ladd and our families.
Our family is very proud that mom is being honored by being placed on the Wildcat Wall of Fame. We thank the community and school for recognizing her efforts in this way. She had been a vital part of this community for over 50 years. I am so sorry mom is not around to see all of this. However, being such a humble and modest person, she would undoubtedly say it is completely unnecessary and undeserved. Those of us who know her and know of her know that that is completely untrue. She was not the type of person who wanted to be out in front, gaining attention. She was always the quiet, calm, busy bee behind the scenes helping out in whatever way she could, whether at school or in the community.
JoAnn Ruth Desing was a farm girl born outside of Elkhorn in 1935. She loved music, people, and animals. She attended a one room country school house throughout her elementary years. She did miss most of her eighth grade year as she was home recovering from polio. Her mother was a force of a nature. Between Grandma Desings’ efforts and my mom’s strong determination, she overcame this illness. While recovering she kept up with her classwork at home and returned to school the next year, staying with her class. This is an example of mom’s strength, resilience and determination. Perhaps this is where mom formed the desire to turn an adverse situation into a positive. All through her life she would always be determined to find the positives in negative situations.
Music had always been an important part of mom’s life. Since she was a young girl, she loved all sorts of music and was quite a talented musician. She began playing the organ and piano at her church at the age of 12. In high school she also played the flute and piccolo. Throughout her life she enjoyed teaching piano to her many students. She was an avid fan of musicals and show tunes. I cannot tell you how many times we watched musicals together.
Upon graduation from Elkhorn High School, mom attended Milwaukee College. While there she studied elementary education and music. During her senior year, Milwaukee College became part of the University of Wisconsin system. She always chuckled when she told people she was among the first graduating from UW-Milwaukee.
During one summer vacation from college, she went on a date with a young man who was a couple of years older than she was. She knew of him and had seen him around, but had never given a thought about him until that first date. They went on the date, but mom thought this LeRoy guy was a little too wild for her. LeRoy obviously felt differently. He did offer to take her on a second date. This time he wanted to take her to a Milwaukee Braves baseball game at County Stadium. She had never been to a professional baseball game, or County Stadium. That sounded like fun to her. From that second date on, there was no going back. She had fallen in love with LeRoy Freitag.
LeRoy and JoAnn were married on June 29, 1957. LeRoy had recently returned from the service and he wanted to finish his education. They lived in Janesville while he finished his education degree at Milton College. Mom began her teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher in Janesville.
Upon graduating from Milton, LeRoy found a teaching/coaching job at Black Earth. They lived there for a year. Then they moved to Brooklyn, where LeRoy taught and coached. Mom stayed at home, started raising their family and taught piano lessons to help the family out.
When the Brooklyn and Oregon schools merged, LeRoy accepted a position in Belleville, as a teacher and coach. They built their home on Prisk St. in Belleville. They lived and raised their family in that home, living there over 55 years.
In 1967, with her children now in school, mom took a phone call from Darrel Fitch, who at that time was the Superintendent of Belleville Schools. He offered her a position, over the phone with no interview, teaching Kindergarten in the Paoli school. That school is now the Paoli Schoolhouse restaurant.
In 1968, mom began teaching Second Grade in Belleville at the elementary school. She taught Second Grade there until she retired in 1994.
My mom and dad had two children, myself and Ladd. She stayed home to take care of and raise us until we were school age. She was very involved in our preschool education. She tried to instill her love of music with us. We both took piano lessons with my mom. We both played musical instruments and participated in the school band. She was very loving, supportive and attentive throughout our school years. Even at home, she taught us the importance of looking positively at negative situations.
JoAnn was blessed with five grandchildren, who she loved dearly. She supported each of them with their variety of interests. She attended countless soccer games, basketball games, plays, concerts and parties, even throughout her grandchildren’s college years. Family was of utmost importance to her.
As we have been sorting through my parents’ estate recently, we have uncovered dozens of cards and letters received from their retirement. Students and parents alike talked about how Mrs. Freitag was caring, thoughtful, compassionate, influential and inspiring. Some talked about how she was there for every student, with her twinkling eyes. It is obvious she was well respected, admired and loved by so many. These remembrances mean so much to our family right now. It has been a joy to read the many comments about my mom from friends, parents and students.
Just watch my mom teach for one day and you would see that she was a natural teacher. Mom was the type of teacher who not only cared about her students’ education, but she also deeply cared about them as people. She was a quiet, calm leader in the school, helpful to other teachers, mentoring them as she best could. Mom would listen to students and staff in her own quiet way and make each of them feel like they were important.
Mom was not opposed to taking on challenges as a teacher. She took on many challenges during her career. While they were sometimes difficult, she approached them her trademark positivity. One example is the year mom found out she was going to have a new student. A young girl from Korea, who spoke no English, was going to join her classroom. At first mom, wasn’t sure how she was going to possibly handle this. How would her students respond to this new student? At the time Belleville did not have an English as a Second Language program, but Mom worked with other professionals to create their own version of one. Mom took some basic lessons in speaking Korean. It was difficult, but she did learn some basic words. She researched and learned how to best assist a non-English speaking student. As usual, she tried to take a potential adverse situation in her classroom and turn it into a positive. She made sure the new girl sat right next to her desk so she would feel included and important. At one point this young student needed new adaptive glasses. They had a very strong prescription and were very thick. Mom worried about how other students might react to the new glasses. She did not want the girl to feel uncomfortable or uneasy. She turned this predicament into a game with the young girl. Mom would occasionally put the girls’ glasses on herself. She made a show of it for the girl and the class. She proclaimed them her magic glasses. These glasses would allow her to do paperwork and still keep an eye on her students. With mom’s continual guidance and support, the young girl became acclimated to the classroom community. She was accepted warmly by the other students and thrived academically. This is one of the accomplishments mom was most proud of from her career.
Throughout the years JoAnn worked, volunteered and participated in hundreds of activities throughout the community. Whether at school, at church, helping out with sports or serving in the community, mom was always one of the hardest workers behind the scenes. Yet, with all this effort and unwavering support of this school and community, she never sought nor wanted accolades for it.
Mom taught and accompanied at solo ensembles and many events in the community. She played piano and organ for Grace United Methodist Church for many years. All told, she played for church services for over sixty years. Besides being a member, she served on many church committees through the years, including treasurer. She was an active and vibrant member of the church.
Although my mom was not an athlete or coach, one of her biggest roles behind the scenes was her constant support of my dad in all his coaching and volunteer positions throughout his career. At ball tournaments she would organize and manage the coaching rooms. She helped my dad with several VFW projects. She served at the food stands for the community picnic and football games.
JoAnn served at and supported the food pantry for many years. Working through the school district she saw the need of local residents for basic services. She felt she could not stand by and let that happen without trying to do something to help. She enjoyed her time working at the pantry. She talked often of the people she met and relationships built with her service there.
Golf was another of her main passions. She and my dad were charter members of Edelweiss Golf Club. She served on several committees there through the years. She enjoyed being on the course with my dad and with her friends. She also enjoyed the many golf trips she took with her friends. She was proud of the fact that she was the only member of the family to score a hole in one. She taught me the importance of proper club selection as she showed me how to use the “foot wedge” when necessary.
Our mom was not a gregarious, outgoing person. She was quiet, calm, industrious and sociable, yet influential throughout all her roles in life. Mom was always there to support people and community programs in whatever way was needed. She was a major and vital contributing member to the Belleville community in all the years she lived here. She built many strong relationships with parents, students, staff member friends and family. She is one of the reasons our Belleville community is as strong and vibrant as it is. I hope everyone will remember her for her sparkling eyes, warm smile, infectious laughter and positive influence. Once again, on behalf of my family, we thank all of you for this tremendous honor.
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