Paula "Polly" Freeman

Polly Freeman passed away on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Polly was born in the Town of Russell, in Lincoln County Wisconsin on November 7, 1920 to the late Andrew and Olga (Groth) Tesky.  She attended Merrill High School, and was in the graduating class of 1938.  Prior to her marriage, she worked in the office of Allis Chalmers in Milwaukee.

Polly married Wilbur E. Freeman of Chicago, Illinois, on March 11, 1944, at St John’s Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Following their marriage, the couple lived in Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Chicago, Illinois.  At the end of WWII they returned to Wisconsin, living in Wausau until 1964 before moving to St. Cloud, Minnesota. They shared 28 years of marriage before Wilbur passed away in 1972.

Polly returned to the Wausau area in 1973 where she worked for Town & Country, a women’s clothing store in downtown Wausau, until her retirement.

Polly spent her retirement years enjoying family and friends; making many road trips across Wisconsin or traveling to Minnesota and North Dakota to visit her daughters.  She also relished her trips to Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, Canada, and more with family and friends.

Always active in her church, Polly was a founding member of Christ Lutheran Church in Wausau.

In addition to her parents and husband, Polly was preceded in death by her sister Pearl Tranetzki, brother-in-law George Tranetzki, brother-in-law Richard Freeman, and cousin Reuben W.Tesky.

Survivors include daughters, Linda (Ronald) Stellmach of Maple Plain, Minnesota and Faye (Bernhard) Seter of Grafton, North Dakota; sister-in-law, Marilyn Freeman, Wausau; nephews, Michael Tranetzki, Wausau, Thomas (Emi) Tranetzki, Wausau, Mark (Denise) Freeman, Green Bay, and Jim (Pam) Freeman, Green Bay; niece, Polly Ann (Larry) Nemec, Wausau; and many beloved grand-nephews and nieces.  She will be missed by special friends:  cousin, Lois Hahn, Weston, and long-time friend Gini Schlitz, Wausau.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, August 12th at 1:00 at Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Townline Rd., Wausau.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 12:00 – 1:00.  Interment will be at 2:30 in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery, Merrill, Wisconsin.  Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.