Winifred “Freddie” Jorgensen

Winifred “Freddie” Jor-

gensen died peacefully at

her Maravilla home in

Santa Barbara, California

on August 12, 2017. She

was 103 years, 8 months,

and 19 days old. Born on

November 24, 1913 in

Minot, North Dakota, her

birth name was Winifred

Mae Bakeman. Freddie’s

family had long roots in

North America. Her great,

great, great, great grand-

father, Daniel Frederick

Bakeman, was the last

surviving soldier of the

Revolutionary War. Her

father was William Lucien

Bakeman, Captain of the

Minot Police Department;

her mother, Minnie

Pamelia Bakeman, was ac-

tive in the Women’s Relief

Corps, Daughters of the

American Revolution and

the Degree of Honor.

Freddie’s early years were

marked with a lifelong as-

sociation with “The

Gerties,” a group of young

women from Minot. Just

out of high school, this

sewing and social circle

began. As the years went

on and some members

moved, they continued to

be in touch with a com-

munal letter they called a

“Round Robin.” The letter

began with one person

writing and sending news

on; the next added to it;

with the last entry, a new

one began. This commun-ication continued for

years and years. As 2015,

the last of the other ”

Gerties” died; now there

are none. In North Dako-

ta, she met the love of her

life on a blind date–Ove

Woodrow Jorgensen. They

married on December 24,

1939 and began a life of

devotion and committed

partnership. Their mar-

riage lasted more than 64

years. Ove’s career, sup-

ported thoroughly by

Freddie, took them to

homes in Toledo, Ohio

and Royal Oak, Michigan

and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

They enjoyed the Michi-

gan woodlands and

developed two treasured

places-the first on the

Pere Marquette River and

the second property out-

side Branch, Michigan.

With retirement, they

spent the winter months

at a Thunderbird Country

Club home in Rancho

Mirage, California. With

arrival in Fort Wayne in

1956, Freddie took up golf

and played for forty years.

While she was never a

low scorer, she was con-

sistent and dedicated. She

played in tournaments at

two country clubs of

which she and Ove were

members: the Fort Wayne

Country Club and the

Thunderbird Country

Club. A hole-in-one is a

big achievement among

golfers: Freddie achieved

two. Throughout her life,

Freddie was a devoted

seamstress. She made

dresses and coats for her-

self in the early years of

marriage as well as cos-

tumes later for her two

children-Peter Pan, bun-

nies, pirates, gypsies,

Davy Crocket, Mrs. Santa

Claus and more. She ex-

celled with Pedi point,

rugs, and needlepoint.

Her intricate needlepoints

are varied in subject and

treasured by friends and

family. Freddie was pre-

ceded in death by Ove

who died shortly after his

90th birthday in 2005.

She is survived by Susan

Jorgensen and her wife

Alice Gillaroo of Santa

Barbara, California; Jay

Jorgensen and his wife

Jane of Syracuse, Indiana;

grandson Ben Jorgensen

of San Francisco Califor-

nia; granddaughter Molly

Jorgensen and her hus-

band Nick Stevens of

Winetka, Illinois and their

son Ove Nicholas

Jorgensen-Stevens-a great

grandson for Freddie.

Freddie recently said that

she felt her longevity was

because she was always

surrounded by good and

loving people. She has en-

joyed the friendship of

many and the devotion of

family. Her last years

were especially blessed by

the loving care of her sup-

port team lead by Linda

Macias. Freddie’s family

is forever grateful to Lin-

da, Lola Zaragosa, Sylvia

Pereyra , Melly Valdez,

Kathy Mata, Margaret Gar-

cia, and Theresa Solis.

And on her last day, she

was surrounded by good,

loving people. Services

are 10:30 am, Monday,

August 21, 2017 at D.O.

McComb & Sons Coving-

ton Knolls Funeral Home,

8325 Covington Rd, with

calling one hour prior.

Calling also Sunday, Au-

gust 20, 2017 from 3:00

pm – 7:00 pm at the fun-

eral home. Memorials

may be made in Freddie’s

name may be made to the

Dr. Susan Love Research

Foundation or Junior

Achievement of Northern

Indiana.To sign the online

guest book, go to www.do

mccombandsons.com