Nellie "Nell" Velma Herbig, 94, of Freeport, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Parkview Home. Born October 25, 1919 in Platteville, Wisconsin she was the daughter of Walter and Yuna (Manuell) Pickett. Nell attended Platteville Grade School, Platteville High School and two years at Platteville Teacher's College. Later, she received a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in Outdoor Education from Northern Illinois University at DeKalb. She taught in a rural school in Grant County, Wisconsin for five years and later taught third and fourth grades in District 145, Freeport, for seventeen years. She retired from Empire Grade School in May, 1980.

Nell was a Girl Scout leader, 4-H leader, Sunday school teacher, member of the Rock Run Home Bureau and the American Association of University Women. She had been a member of Embury United Methodist Church since 1951.

She married Lawrence R. Herbig on November 26, 1943 in Platteville. During World War II, she worked a short time at Woodward Governor in Rockford and later at Hunter's Engineering, Riverside, CA.

Since her retirement, Nell enjoyed the Home Garden Club and had great influence of the planting and care of the trees on the Carl Sandburg School grounds on Church Street and Kiwanis Drive. Her love of nature led to her favorite pastime of planting and caring for her flower gardens.

Nell also loved to spend time in northern Wisconsin at the family cabin. Her husband taught her how to fish and they enjoyed many vacations with friends and family, fishing and having fun. Because her daughter, Marsha, lived in Hawaii, summer trips were made there. After retirement, they also spent some winters in Ft. Myers, Florida.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence of Freeport; two daughters, Marsha Forsythe of Honolulu, HI and Susan (Don) Sutton of Bloomington; two sons, Terry (Donna) Herbig, Moline and Todd Herbig of Sierra Madre, CA; eight grandchildren, Justin (Sherry) Forsythe, Tyler Forsythe, Kellie (David) Henry, Amanda (Greg) Boitnott, Kyle Herbig, Casie (Michael) Harden, Timothy and Daniel Herbig; nine great-grandchildren; her sister, Eleanor Walant of Rockford; and sister-in-law, Leona Pickett of South Beloit.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. March 8, 2014 at Embury United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until time of service on March 8, 2014 at Embury United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established at the Freeport Noon Kiwanis Club (Tree Fund for Kiwanis Drive), FHN Hospice and the Embury United Methodist Church.

Special thanks to the loving and caring staff at Parkview Home and FHN Hospice. Cards of condolence may be sent to:
Larry Herbig, 1234 S. Park Blvd, Freeport, IL 61032.