Barbara Ann Gehler, 92, of Ottawa, Illinois died July 2, 2024. She lived at Pleasant View
Lutheran Life Communities, Ottawa, Illinois at the time of her passing.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mueller Funeral Home, Ottawa, IL on Friday July 12th at
11 AM, with Pastor Randy Mortenson of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church officiating. Visitation
will begin one hour prior to services. Following services, family and guests are invited to gather at
the Pleasant View Chapel for refreshment and fellowship to share stories about Barb’s life.
Private Family Internment at Oakwood Memorial Park.
Mrs. Gehler was born September 17, 1931 in Freedom Township (Illinois) to Walter and Clara
Thorson. She married Merle L. Freise on June 17, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ottawa,
Illinois. They had two sons; Kent and Randal. Merle died on November 14, 1961. She married
James G. Gehler on April 6, 1963 at St John’s Lutheran Church in Mendota, Illinois. He died on
November 1, 2013. Atthe time of her death, Barbara was a member of St John’s Lutheran
Church in Springfield, IL and after relocating to Ottawa regularly attended services at Pleasant
View Lutheran Life Communities Chapel.
Barbara was a 1949 graduate of Ottawa High School. The family lived in Streator, Ottawa,
Normal and Springfield, Illinois. For several years she worked outside of the home in various
accounting and administrative positions. She is survived by one son, Kent(Edie) Freise, a
daughter in Law, Sandra Gehler, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one great-greatgrandchild, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; Walter and Clara Thorson, husband Merle L. Freise,
husband James G. Gehler, son Randal L. (Freise) Gehler, brother Orville Thorson and sisters,
Marian (Clarence) Boe and Doris (D. Wayne) Chapman.
Memorials may be directed to St.John’s Lutheran Church, Memorial Endowment Funds,
Springfield, Ill. and/or Pleasant View Chapel, Ottawa, Illinois.
Mueller Funeral Home, 800 1st Ave, Ottawa, IL 61350
Oakwood Memorial Park, 2405 Champlain St, Ottawa, IL 61350.
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 W Washington St, Springfield, IL
Barbara was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper at Oakwood Memorial Park.