Stefan Frederick Freeman

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Freeman Stefan Frederick Freeman, age 88 of Bemidji, MN, died Friday, June 27, 2003 in North Country Regional Hospital, Bemidji, MN. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, July 1, 2003 in Calvary Lutheran Church, Bemidji, MN with Rev. Mark Papke-Larson officiating. Visitation will be for one hour before the services on Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, MN under the direction of the Olson- Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN. Casket bearers will be his grandchildren: Shannon Wing, Randi Arnar, Kjersten Wing, Jeffrey Swanson, Molly Swanson, Sarah Swanson, Caddy Ohrt, Stefan Freeman, Jon Freeman, Sonja Freeman and Eleanor Freeman. Stefan Frederick Freeman was born March 28, 1915 to Olafur and Sigridur (Jonsson) Freeman in Upham, ND. He was always amazed at the changes he experienced; horse and buggy to automobiles to lunar shuttles; no electricity to computer email around the world. Stefan attended North Dakota School of Forestry in Bottineau from 1932- 1934 then transferred to the University of Minnesota where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1936. He worked for Brown Steel Tank from 1936 to 1946 when he and Cliff Jerpbak started their own business, Minneapolis Tank and Manufacturing Company. Stefan married Audrey Nelson August 29, 1942, and they raised four children in the Excelsior area. Stefan retired in 1969 and enjoyed 34 wonderful years in retirement. Stefan donated 52 acres in the Excelsior area for a park. Today the Freeman Park on Highway 7 West of Excelsior is used by many for its soccer field, baseball diamonds and many hiking trails. He is survived by 2 daughters, Stephanie (Richard) Wing, Excelsior, MN and Nancy Swanson, Bagley, MN; 2 sons, Lynn (Roberta) Freeman, Cass Lake, MN and Jon Freeman, Bemidji, MN; 11 grandchildren; 7 great- grandchildren; 2 brothers, Dr. Donald (Helen) Freeman, Minneapolis, MN and Erling (Elaine) Freeman, Bottineau, ND; sister, Laurel Ann Sigurdson, Scottsdale, AZ; sister-in-law, Arlene (Don) Schmid, Eden Prairie, MN; companion, Rebecca Petefish, Bemidji, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Olafur and Sigridur (Jonsson) Freeman; Audrey (Nelson) Freeman, wife of 51 years; 3 brothers and 3 sisters. The family prefers that memorials be directed to Melanchton Icelandic Church, Upham, ND.

Published on July 1, 2003