Mary and Donald Freedlund

Donald was born on February 1, 1924 on the coldest day of the year at the family farm in Sherwood Township, Wisconsin to Allen Gideon Freedlund and Ragnhild Augusta (Jacobson) Freedlund. He graduated from Neillsville High School in Neillsville, Wisconsin in 1942. The day he graduated, his father had a massive stroke, so he took over running the farm while his older brother served in World War II.

When the war ended and his brother returned, Donald moved to Rockford in 1947 and was hired at Elco Industries. He attended Iowa State University from 1955-56, and then returned to Rockford and worked for Elco again. Donald later worked for Debes and Associates for several years before returning to work for Elco Industries as a design engineer until the end of his career in 1984.

In 1954, Donald met the love of his life, Mary Lea Kauffman, after she was told he had a good job, a nice car and was good looking. On August 31, 1957, they married in Waterloo, Iowa on the hottest day of the year. Together, they raised their three children, Craig Allen, Jane Ellen, and Richard Lee.

Donald and Mary Lea loved to travel. They took the family around the country and Canada, and in 1974, the family drove to Alaska on the AlCan Highway. Don took pride in the fact that he visited all 50 states and Puerto Rico. As a Rotarian, Donald organized trips to numerous countries on several continents, missing only Africa and Antarctica. On one of the trips to Europe, Donald was able to discover his family’s roots in Sweden, including the small church where his grandmother was baptized.

After he retired, Donald volunteered at Rockford Memorial Hospital for a long period, and he coordinated the Koats for Kids program for the Salvation Army, helping to distribute 65 thousand winter coats for local children. He was a two time Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary Club.

Donald enjoyed outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and camping and shared them with his family. He often found orphaned tools and repaired them for renewed use. He enjoyed drawing, and was a phenomenal photographer, winning several awards for his pictures of birds and people. In his later years, he liked to share stories of growing up in Central Wisconsin and local lore with his extended family and friends.

Donald was predeceased by his parents, his sister Ellen, his brothers, Harold and Morris, his daughter, Jane, and his wife of 63 years, Mary Lea (tap or click Mary Lea's obituary here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/machesney-park-il/mary-freedlund-9898787).

Donald is survived by his sons, Craig (Mary) Freedlund and Richard Freedlund, son-in-law David Ostrom, grandchildren Hanna, Max, and Haley Freedlund, and Eric and Rachel Ostrom, brother Rodney (Carolyn) Freedlund, brother-in-law Craig Kauffman,, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life gathering for Don and Mary Lea will be held Saturday, July 1, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 8800 North Alpine Road, Machesney Park, Illinois 61115. If you would like to attend virtually, a zoom meeting will begin at 12:15 PM, and can be accessed at:

https://mmlafleur.zoom.us/j/85723010879?pwd=VTdqeXNyTTFCNVNxOERmOW4zUVlsdz09

Meeting ID: 857 2301 0879

Passcode: 425663

A private inurnment will occur at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 8800 North Alpine Road, Machesney Park, Illinois 61115.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the National Parkinson's Foundation, at parkinson.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com for the Freedlund family.