William C. “Bill” Freese, 96, died peacefully at home on December 23, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Cremation rites have been accorded and a celebration of life memorial service will be held in the Spring. The date will be announced later.
Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Davenport Schools Foundation for a Central High baseball scholarship or to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Davenport.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.weertsfh.com.
Bill was born May 25, 1927, to William and Frieda Freese on a farm near Wiota, IA. He attended Simpson College briefly before signing a professional baseball contract in 1947 as a pitcher with New York Yankees organization. His baseball career spanned eight years, with two-year break for military service. In 1957 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa, and received his Master’s Degree from Northeast Missouri State College in 1969.
In 1957, Bill began his teaching and coaching career at Corwith-Wesley, IA, where he won two baseball state championships. In 1960 he came to Davenport Central and met Sherry Kilpatrick, who was teaching at Central; they were married in 1961.
From 1960-1985, he taught social studies and coached varsity baseball at Davenport Central, winning four Iowa state championships and three state runner-up titles. Among his many awards and honors, he was named Topps High School Coach of the Year, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Baseball Coach of the year, and inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Quad City Times Sports Hall of Fame, the Davenport Schools Athletic Ring of Honor for Central; and the Central High baseball field was renamed Bill Freese Field in June 2023. He was honored to coach at Central with legendary coaches and friends Ira Dunsworth, Jim Fox, Don Grensing and Jack Leabo. Prior to summer high school baseball in Iowa, Bill scouted future prospects for several major league teams.
Bill was a founding member of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA), and served a term as President as well as on various committees. The association honored him with the State Coach of the Year Award and the Pinky Primrose Award for his baseball and community involvement, in addition to his Hall of Fame honor. The annual Contributor’s Award is named the Bill and Sherry Freese Award; the two were staff members for many years for the annual IHSBCA Clinic and All-Star Series. His fellow coaches, players and umpires not only admired Bill for his instruction and leadership, but more so as a valued friend or mentor.
As legendary as his baseball career, Bill was a man of great faith. An active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, he served as an elder, church office and usher. In retirement, he enjoyed playing golf and having coffee and lunch with friends and colleagues.
Deeply loved by his family and a wide circle of friends and neighbors, Bill is survived by his wife, Sherry of 62 years; his daughters, Elizabeth Freese Canute (Gregory), Mt. Holly, N.C.; and MaryKay Freese Hahn (Russell), Kenosha, WI; granddaughter Kelly Canute Keele (Cody), Stanley, N.C.; soon to be born great-grandson John William Keele; and sister-in-law Norma Kilpatrick, Pinehurst, N.C.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, a sister and brother and spouses, and a brother-in-law.
