John W. Freeman, 65, passed away April 25, 2018, at his family home surrounded by a group of people that loved him very much. His “daughter” Crystal Ward (Smart) had her loving touch in his hand for his final breath. He battled with dignity and honor for his family until he was overtaken by the difficulties of renal disease.
Born in Westbrook, Maine, on November 22, 1952, to Clifford Freeman, Sr., and Loretta Freeman (Chaplin). He was the eighth of nine children born to Clifford and Loretta. He was very proud to return to school and receive his G.E.D. from Portland Adult Education in his late thirties.
He spread his talents with many different areas of employment throughout his career including being shop steward of the Yarmouth yard for the Maine State Department of Transportation. He was a man of few words. The words he spoke came from a sharp tongue sometimes, but they always came from his heart.
His heart was of a quality unlike most others. Over the years, he took care of many people with sickness, most of all, his brother Larry Freeman. The last five plus years, while fighting the effects of renal disease, he was cared for by his wife Donna Freeman (Quinn), whom he married November 14, 1974.
In their forty-four years of marriage, they provided a wonderful world for their two sons, Jeremy and Shawn Freeman. Our father enjoyed to ride his motorcycle; play his organ on Saturday nights; doing charcoal drawings; pointing out “Boombas” with his beloved friend Bob; listening to music in the acoustics of his vehicle; camping with family; riding with his dog and co-pilot Benny to Cumby’s for scratchees and coffee; but, most of all, sharing his love with his family and friends. We loved our father and husband more than any words on a piece of paper could ever express.
He allowed us all to be who we wanted to be with minimal interference or judgement. He put in his two cents, in the end, the choice was always ours to make. It is in my belief that his proudest achievement was raising his two sons to be respectful, decent human beings.
His final work is yet to be complete, as his sons, we have accepted the duty to carry on his legacy. He did his job as a father. His parents, brothers Carl, Clifford Jr., Grandy, Kenny, Larry and his sister Loretta predeceased John.
Brothers Charlie and Frank; his wife Donna Freeman; son Jeremy Freeman and wife Jessica; son Shawn Freeman; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren survive him. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you contribute to Monica Rowe Salamone’s Heart Walk Team in honor of our father at: www2. heart.org/goto/honoringjohnwaynefreeman.
Visiting hours are Tuesday, May 1, 2018 from 4-7pm at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland, Maine 04102. Service to be held at same location Wednesday, May 2, at 11am. Burial to be held at a future date.
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