Donna J. (Cunningham) DeFreece

Donna J. DeFreece, 85, of Tecumseh, passed away November 15, 2022 at the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  She was born to Eldon P. and Margaret A. (Rouse) Cunningham on June 25, 1937 in Grand Island, Nebraska.  She grew up in Grand Island, where she attended Barr Junior High School, Grand Island Senior High School,  received her Bachelor of Science from Kearney State College and Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from UNL with endorsements for sign language and visually impaired.  Donna was a longtime classroom and special education teacher.  

She was united in marriage to James I. DeFreece at the First Christian Church in Grand Island, Nebraska.  To this union five children were born.  

Donna and Jim made their home in Tecumseh where they raised their family.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, counselor, advisor and mentor.  She was a Christ follower, friend to everyone, loved everyone, and left a legacy of love, that touched everyone she met.

She was a faithful long-time member of the First Baptist Church in Tecumseh where she had served as deacon.  Donna was also a member of Job's Daughters and the Foster Care Review Board.   She was most passionate about children and her family and also enjoyed gardening, music and watching sports.  Donna will be dearly missed by all who knew her. 

Donna is survived by her husband Jim DeFreece, children, Dave and Rhonda (Miesbach) DeFreece and children, Mike and Sara (DeFreece) Grein, Tim and Carrie (DeFreece) Bugg and Sam DeFreece, Jeff Brommer (Kristin’s husband) and children Pat and Alicia (Naber) Brommer, Kyle Brommer and Sydney Zach, Dan and Kay (Pudenz) DeFreece and children Jameson and Taylor DeFreece,  Leah DeFreece and Addison DeFreece, Andy and Gina (Novicki) DeFreece and children Nathan DeFreece, Jack DeFreece and Seth DeFreece, and Steve and Paula (Holm) DeFreece and children Schyler DeFreece, Gabe DeFreece and Jonathan DeFreece and great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Josiah and Levi  Grein, Madison, Grace and Lucy Bugg, Elliott and Cora Brommer, Cooper Zach and Ignatius DeFreece.  

Donna was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents and her daughter Kristin Brommer.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Pastor Hugh Giesbrecht officiating.  The service will also be livestreamed on the Wherry Mortuary/Wherry Monument Facebook page.  

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska. 

Memorials may go to the First Baptist Church or Gold Crest Retirement Center. 

Inurnment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

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