Freeman, Raymond Charles

Raymond Charles Freeman, 87, of Fairfax, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital after a short illness. Services: 11 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church by the Rev. Kay Slocum. Burial: Oak Hill Cemetery with military services by American Legion Post 217. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Teahen Funeral Home and after 10 a.m. Friday at the church.

Raymond is survived by his wife of 62 years Alice; a son, Steven (Patricia) of Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Pamela (Thomas) Martens of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Jennifer (Scott) McBurney, Joshua Freeman and Matthew, Adam and Jessica Martens; great-granddaughter Brianna; and a sister-in-law, Ruth (Eugene) Dyrland of Cedar Rapids.

Ray was born July 13, 1925, in Atkins, the son of Charles and Hannah Swallom Freeman. He married Alice Louise Zier on July 1, 1950 in Cedar Rapids. He retired in 1984 as a foreman with Iowa Electric Light and Power Co. He was a Navy veteran and a member of the Atkins American Legion Post 217 and First Lutheran Church.

Ray loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed spending time outdoors in a trout stream near Decorah, camping with family and friends and spending time at his woodworking bench making items that he would sell at craft shows. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeyes fan, enjoyed opportunities to travel and looked forward to an occasional visit to the casino in Tama.

Memorials may be directed to St. Luke's Hospice, 290 Blairs Ferry Rd., Suite 100, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Published in The Gazette Jan. 16, 2013.