JOHN ROBERT DEFREESE

PITTSBURG, Kan.- A parish rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for John Robert Defreese, 74, Pittsburg, who died Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Mo. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 3, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery with Fr. Andrew Labenz as celebrant. Burial will follow at McCune City Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.

Survivors include his wife, Coleen, of the home; a son, Colten Defreese, Pittsburg; three step-brothers, Danny Chapman, Sheldon, Mo., Darrell Chapman and wife Debra, Nevada, Mo. and Don Chapman and wife Geri, Webb City, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmom, Dorothy Lee Defreese.

Mr. Defreese was born Aug. 24, 1948, in Lamar, Mo., to Carl Robert and Evaun Virginia (Hutchison) Defreese.

He married Coleen Maffei on March 21, 1987, at Sheldon, Mo. He worked for AZZ Incorporated and Avail Encourage Systems for 15 years. He also enjoyed golfing and fishing.