Freeport natives, friends, families and those who have moved away are encouraged to attend tomorrow’s homecoming catch up with old friends and meet new ones.      

The day starts with breakfast; every year Freeport’s firefighters cook a pancake breakfast..    

 

              Deloris Dipp

The pancakes, sausage, eggs and a beverage will be ready at 7 a.m. at the fire station.

Line up for the parade of kids, vehicles, clowns, pets and marchers is at 9:30 a.m. steps off at 10 a.m. This year’s Grand Marshal is Deloris Dipp.

 

The Classic Car show registration is from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. The cars will fill up the main street and children’s games and event will begin. Music by “Geez Louise” begins at noon.
The Freeport Museum will be open for tours and sales of the ladies history/recipe books following the parade. Dipp will be in front of the museum to say hello to former students and greet the community (see related story).
Organizers say the public is cordially invited to come to the Freeport Homecoming where you will find good food, entertainment and make memories.

About Grand Marshal Deloris Dipp:

In July, 1946 the George Owen family moved to Freeport.  Deloris and her four siblings, Albert, Tom, Ron and Barb joined ball teams, delivered papers and entered the workforce of the village.  All graduated from Freeport high except Barbara, who graduated from Thornapple Kellogg in Middleville.

 

Deloris had three dreams; become a teacher, marry a good person and have children. All were achieved.  She graduated from Barry County Normal in 1950 and taught at Fish, Shultz, Freeport, Welcome Corners and retired after 16 years from Hastings area schools, a total of 36 years, plus subbing in a various schools.

 

She also worked in a grocery store, printing office and the drug store, all in Freeport.
She married Ernest Dipp, a farmer, and they had two children, Beverly and Bryan.
Deloris never stopped moving, she mowed her yards, had flower gardens, vegetable gardens, quilted with the Lutheran Church group and the Hope Quilters for over 25 years.  She gave more than 130 quilts to nursing homes and families, many lap robes that warmed friends and elderly during cooler months.

 

Other hobbies included, traveling to Europe, Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, Mexico, Arizona, Florida and California.  Her late husband collected over 400 nutcrackers and canes from around the world.  "You buy it, you carry it,” was a family rule. 

 

Below are some the scenes from last year’s Homecoming.