Gary Lee Freeman passed away on Oct. 9, 2017, in his wife’s loving embrace; his three children were with him in spirit and prayer. He was 82, a resident of Fremont.

Gary was born Aug. 10, 1935, to Garland and Leona Freeman. After graduating from Fremont High School at 16, he attended Wesleyan College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Midland College. He next graduated from St. Paul Bible College with Bachelor of Science in Missions. While at Midland College he met Sharon Glee Halseth, who became Gary’s bride on June 5, 1959. They shared a life of joy together.

A deeply spiritual man, Gary’s pursuit in life was to honor God through serving the needs of others. His greatest happiness came from the deep bonds of love he shared with his family.

In 1956, Gary joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War on the heavy cruiser, the USS Macon. Visiting every continent but one, he traveled to ports throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Cuba and South America.

Gary later enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and rose to the highest enlisted rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. For several years and until retirement, he had been given command of the US Naval Reserve Area 5 Exhibit Center. There he designed and manufactured exhibits, scale model reproductions and models of U.S. Navy ships, submarines, and aircraft. Gary retired from active service in 1991 and started a private business designing, creating and manufacturing museum quality scale model reproductions. In recent years, he built a commercial workshop in Nickerson with his family, and enjoyed creating models, small tractors, and furniture.

He was the editor of the Red Edge Newsletter, devoted to the local chapter of the International Harvester Collector Club. He enjoyed hosting the Annual Christmas gathering for the area’s U.S. Naval Reservists.

Gary was a life-long builder, creator and artisan. Throughout his life he loved working on projects, creating new art, models, woodworking and making things beautiful. He read daily and had numerous interests in the world, including design, inspirational architecture, art, aviation, astronomy and the universe. He appreciated the era he lived in and looked to the future, while at the same time valued old-fashioned machinery, history and stories. He enjoyed well-designed gatherings and creative spaces, happy music, doing projects with his son and daughters and spending time with his wife.

His imagination was fueled by the birth of America’s space program of the 1960s as he watched the Apollo missions unfold, then the space shuttle and planetary missions. He often enjoyed sharing favorite Hubble Space Telescope images. He was thrilled with the advent of computers and fascinated with the creative and communication capabilities computers offered.

He lived his life with honor, kindness and deep respect for others. He lived each day in service of faith and goodness, was deeply empathetic, had an amazing sense of humor, was optimistic, patient, generous, giving and loving. He was a private, humble man, who most enjoyed spending his time creating a beautiful home with his wife, reading or creating something new. Gary is deeply loved and respected.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon; children, David, Rachel and Deborah, their spouses, Michael and Morgan; his grandchildren, Ryan, Hannah, Christine and Mark; great-grandchildren, Trevor and Madison; his brother, Stanley and spouse Marilyn; and many loved nieces, nephews and dear cousins.

The Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 28 at Cornerstone Bible Church, 406 E. Third St., in Fremont. Following the service there will be a reception at “Gallery 92 West,” the Fremont Area Art Association, located at 92 W. Sixth St., in Fremont.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in care of the family to create a lasting legacy in our beloved Gary’s name. The family wishes to express gratitude to all those who shared Gary’s life.

Orginially published in the Fremont Tribune on October 23, 2017.