Freida Colby

Freida Marie Colby, 100, passed away on March 20, 2022, at Colonial Manor in Danville. Born July 23, 1921, in a farmhouse near Royal Center, Indiana to Elvin and Florence Kistler. Although she didnt live far from Royal Center, she was supposed to attend the one-room school called Burr Oak about 5 miles from her house. The year she was five she was sent to school with her brother Manford. After having to share a wide desk with him, she began to cry and was sent home until she was older. It was the first and only time she was expelled, and she didnt forget it.

A couple years later the Burr Oak School closed and she got to ride the bus to Royal Center School. By her fourth grade the family had moved to Star City, Indiana onto another farm. There, they attended a one room church. This is where she met her future husband of 57 years, Elmer. Elmers family had moved in down the road for them and from that day on, music and the church were very important to her and Elmer. As soon as she was 16, she and Elmer started dating. After they graduated, Elmer moved to Danville to help his parents, and Freida began work in a garment factory. But they kept in touch and were married on July 28, 1940. She then moved with Elmer to the big city of Danville. They were invited to a service at Plymouth Congregational Church and ended up joining the wonderful congregation and were members ever since, even when the church combined with St. Johns on East Main.

Elmer was called into the Navy in 1940 and Freida accompanied him to California until he was sent overseas. There, she worked at a Jeep factory hooking up taillights. When Elmer came home from the war they settled down in Danville and began raising their family. It was a very happy time of their lives. They wanted their five boys to have the opportunities they were never afforded all while maintaining a Christian lifestyle. When all the boys started school, Freida began working different retail jobs downtown. One of her friends urged her to take a course at Danville Junior College, which got her a job doing payroll at District #118. It was one of the hardest jobs she ever had, but the one she enjoyed the most. She then got a job in a doctors office. She liked that job very much too.

Freida had a wonderful Christian life with a wonderful family. She had memories that she wished everyone could experience. She saw to it that her five boys had church, music, family, and civics in their lives as they grew up. And in her spare time she taught herself to quilt, an art which she mastered and loved.

Elmer preceded Freida in death in July of 1997. She missed him greatly but enjoyed all the years they had together. She also experienced the loss of her two sons Bob (Inga) Colby, Sr., and Terry Colby, as well as her parents and brothers Manford, Calvin, and Delbert Kistler.

Freida is survived by her remaining sons Don (Delfina), Rick (Judy), and Greg (Janet) Colby and grandchildren Matt Colby, Mike Colby, Bob Colby, Dawn Alvery, Bill Colby, Lee Colby, Christina Pilling, Rich Colby, Robert Colby, Diana Rathgeber, Rudy Colby, and Dolores Hornung. She also leaves behind her sister Corabelle Crippen, 23 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 10:00 am 11:00 am at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, located at 3940 N. Vermilion St. in Danville. A funeral service will follow at the funeral at 11:00 am. Pastor Miles Clark will be officiating. She will be laid to rest at Gordon Cemetery next to Elmer at a later date.

Services Visitation Saturday March 26, 2022 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Il 61834 Funeral Service Saturday March 26, 2022 11:00 AM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Il 61834