Russell Charles Freedman

Russell Charles Freedman, Jr. was called home to our Lord and Savior on January 13, 2012 after suffering a sudden stroke. After a difficult week, he was surrounded by his loving wife of 47 years, his 4 children, and 10 grandchildren. He was 75. Russ was a gentle giant among men and we were given a great gift and honor having him as our beloved husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend.

He was born on October 29, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois to Russell and Helen (Rathnow) Freedman. He graduated from Saint Mel Catholic high school in Chicago and attended Illinois Institute of Technology studying industrial engineering. He served in the U.S. army for 2 years. Russ was joined in Holy Matrimony to Janice Kutilek on November 7, 1964, in Omaha, NE.

During his engineering career, he worked as plant manager at Reynold's Metals in Chicago, Valmont Industries in Omaha and then at NL Atlas Bradford in Houston. Russ's greatest legacy was his lifetime of devotion to his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a dedicated Catholic and loved our Lord immensely. The angels and communion of saints are rejoicing mightily in heaven upon his arrival. We will miss his gentle and kind spirit, his quirky wit, and the inspiring way he led by example.

Russ is survived by his wife, Jan, his daughter, Melanie, and son-in-law Lynn Collins and their daughters, Caroline, Gracie and Libby of Dallas; son John, and daughter-in-law Janet Freedman, and their children, Katie and Joe of Austin; daughter, Anne Marie and son-in-law Tom Watkins, and their children, Hannah, Lily and Andrew of Kingwood, and son Joey, and daughter-in-law Caroline Freedman, and their daughters, Audrey and Elle of Austin. Also surviving are Russ's sister, Pat Bava of Chicago, brother Phil and wife Pam Freedman of Palm Desert, CA, and brother Gerard and sister-in-law Sandy Freedman of Phoenix, AZ, and brother-in-law, Tom Kutilek, and wife Annette and brother-in-law Dan Kutilek and wife Donna, all of Omaha, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 527 South Houston Ave. in Humble, TX, where he was a loyal parishioner for 33 years, on Tuesday, January 17 at 11:00 A.M. with Monsignor Paul Procella officiating. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. with a rosary at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, January 16, at Kingwood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Global Catholic Television Network at EWTN.com.