Gary Freeman

A kindhearted, compassionate, and generous man, Gary Freeman lived life with others in the forefront of his mind, and his faith was the compass he used to guide his path no matter where his adventures took him. Through the way in which he lived his life he taught others that happiness is not found in what we have, but that it is in sharing our love, our laughter, and our lives with all who are within our reach that we are richly blessed. A free spirited adventurer, Gary saw so many of the most beautiful places the country has to offer, yet he was always happy to find his way back home to surround himself with his beloved family. Life will never be the same without Gary here, but the lives of countless others will be forever changed because of his love.

The 1960s were an eventful time in the history of our nation as there were numerous noteworthy events. We elected the young John F. Kennedy as our 35th President of the United States and Martin Luther King led the way in civil rights while we were victorious in putting the first man on the moon. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1966 that was filled with great joy for a young couple from Grand Rapids, Michigan, as they were pleased to announce the birth of a baby boy on October 1st. Gary Brent was the fourth of five children born to his parents, Robert and Marcia (Hojnacki) Freeman, and he was raised in the family home on the West side of Grand Rapids alongside his siblings, Kelly, Kristina, Tim, and Sandra. The Freeman family was given a tough pill to swallow with the death of Gary’s father when Gary was just three years old.

From a young age Gary had a spirit of adventure. He was a good kid who loved the outdoors and things like fishing and hunting with his uncles and cousins. On one trip to Cadillac, 10 of them would stay in a 2 bedroom hotel room. Gary and his siblings could often be found riding mini-bikes through the orchards near their home. He played some sports including football, too. As a student Gary attended Cummings Elementary and then went on to Grandville Schools where he was a popular guy who had many friends. By the time he was at Grandville High School Gary got into body building and loved working on his cars. He went on to graduate from high school in the early eighties.

Even though Gary spent many of his years working and he realized that a job was necessary to provide, he was a minimalist who never focused his life on any one job. Some of his first jobs were with Meijer and Mr. Fables; and after that he preferred jobs that allowed him to be outdoors. Gary was naturally gifted as a handyman and could fix nearly anything so jobs in the construction industry were naturally a good fit. One job that he particularly enjoyed was working at Interlochen. Gary worked a variety of jobs, often changing each year as he moved about the country during the winter months as he preferred the warmth of the South over the cold winters of the North. He spent a lot of time in Florida, but he also traveled as far as Arizona, California, and even Hawaii. Wherever he went, Gary only took what was necessary. Eager to see family, Gary returned to Grand Rapids during the summer where he especially loved being with his nieces and nephews. Before leaving again in the fall Gary made sure that he had tied up all the loose ends on any projects that his family needed his help with.

There were so many things that enriched Gary’s journey. As someone who loved nature, he enjoyed taking his nieces and nephews out on nature hikes at the cottage near Greenville or at Blandford Nature Center when he was home. Gary loved teaching them how to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of nature. Many of his travels he did on bike as he was known to ride across the state of Florida or up to Traverse City. As he moved from one city to another he often gave his bike away to someone who needed one. Gary had an inventive mind and got creative in things such as attaching a string trimmer motor to the front end of his bike to assist him in peddling across Florida or riding a motorized scooter 30 miles in Arizona. Along the way Gary kept in touch with family through email by stopping at libraries to access the internet. Of course he was always full of stories and adventures, and he was more than happy to share his stories that were always deeply rooted in the truth.

All who knew Gary would agree that he was truly extraordinary. He lived life fully and in the moment, never looking toward the future for happiness or contentment. In everything he did, Gary tried to do God’s will. He worked to get what he needed, but he also regularly volunteered his time wherever he was as Gary exemplified what it means to be the hands and feet of the Lord he loved. He saw generosity toward others to be his role in fulfilling God’s calling to help those around him. Gary was highly intelligent, in part because he was an avid reader, but also because he was simply a student of life. He had a heart of gold and was always available to help whenever he was needed. Gary was frugal, knew how to stretch a dollar, and mastered the idea of making due or doing without.

Although his journey ended much too soon, Gary Freeman packed every bit of living into each moment he was given. He was happy, easygoing, and always smiling as he was content in all things. Gary was creative and someone who was able to think outside the box with great wisdom, too. His faith never wavered, and his devotion to his family was unmatched. Gary will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

Gary B. Freeman, age 48 of Grand Rapids, passed away October 18, 2014. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert. Gary lived a simple life, teaching that happiness is not found in material possessions. He will be greatly missed by his mother, Marcia Freeman; sisters and brother Kelly & Craig Rector, Kristina & Timothy Crater, Tim & Amy Freeman, Sandra & Jim Siegersma; nieces and nephews Troy (Jodi) Rector, Ashley (Stefan) Skillman, Joshua, Jeremy, Erika and Olivia Crater, Cody, Colin and Tim Freeman, Adam and Jacob Siegersma as well as great niece and great nephew and many aunts, uncles and cousins. A service to honor and celebrate Gary's life will be held on Saturday, October 25 at 10:30 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW where friends may visit with his family from 9:30 AM until the service. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Blandford Nature Center are appreciated. To read more about his life, to share a memory or to sign his guestbook, visit www.lifestorynet.com