Joan Froede

Joan Froede, 80, went to be with her Lord on February 3, 2016.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Sunset Memorial Park Chapel with Rev. Van Clack of Heritage Baptist Church officiating.  Viewing will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park, Dothan, Alabama.

Mrs. Froede was born in Phenix City, Alabama on Valentine’s Day, 1935.  She lived the first 20 years of her life in that area, traveling mostly to south Alabama and south Georgia to visit family, or to the beach to play in the surf.  She was attending nursing school in Columbus when she was spotted by the well-traveled Carl R. Froede, a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  Liking what he saw and perceived from the young Miss Luker, he knew he wanted to marry her and being a Froede, he was determined to have her as his own.  When he first proposed he was refused because Joan wanted to marry a Christian man.  At that point she explained the Gospel, he repented and accepted Christ as his own, and immediately became a candidate for marriage.  It was twelve weeks from first sight to the wedding altar.  As I wrote, Mr. Froede is a determined man.

The next twenty years of her life were a whirlwind of military relocations around the US, going as far north as Alaska, and overseas to Germany and Iran.  She was the perfect military wife, entertaining dinner guests, hosting Bible studies, and rearing her also determined children to fear and love the Lord.  She was well known for her ability to prepare delicious hors d’oeuvres.  In her travels she also learned how to cook various foreign dishes leading the family to say when they retired they would open a restaurant, “Mama Froede’s House of International Cuisine.”

The last forty years of her life began with the loss of her parents and middle brother Robert in a short period of time as well as the onset of a string of various ailments.  It could be said that this period of her life was much like the second test of Job.  It can also be said that, despite her illnesses, like Job she persevered and maintained her faith to the last.  At the end, it was Progressive Supra-nuclear Palsy that served as the chariot to take Joan home to be with her Lord.  Although she is already sorely missed the anguish is abated by the knowledge that she is simply gone ahead of her loved ones to Abraham’s bosom.

She was preceded in death by her parents Cullen Waldo and Mary Gantt Luker and two brothers Robert Earl Luker and Cullen Waldo Luker Jr.  Survivors include her husband of 61 years LTC Carl Russell Froede U.S. Army Ret.; Sons Carl Russell Froede, Jr. Susan, Paul Edward Froede Alicia; daughter Julie Faith Froede; and grandchildren Joshua Paul Froede and Alexander Edward Froede.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Heritage Baptist Church building fund.