Marion J. Freeman

Marion was born in Washington, Missouri on December 23, 1928. She passed away at the Loveland, Colorado Good Samaritan Facility on January 6, 2018, at age 89.

Marion met her future husband while they were students at Iowa City Junior High School. She was 12 years old and Bob was age 13. They became engaged when they were seniors at Iowa City High School. Marion and Bob were University of Iowa students for two years before they were married on September 11, 1948, 69 years ago.

Marion is survived by her husband Bob, her sister Betty Wiegand, three of her children - John Robert (Judy), Daniel James (partner, Bonnie O’Brien), and Rebecca Jean Chesek (Tony), and six grandchildren - Jennifer Netherton (Willy), Nathan Freeman, Lauren Freeman, Rosie Chesek, David Chesek, and Jacob Freeman. She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Barry Freeman, who died as a result of a tragic accident December 8, 1972. He was a medical student at the University of Iowa. His death was a life-changing event for the Freeman family.

The Barry Freeman Memorial Fund was established shortly after his death. Over the course of the last 45 years, 417 Iowa medical students have received fellowships to learn about and practice medicine in third world countries. Marion helped manage Barry’s Fund, she was a member of the Iowa President’s Club, and was a founding member of a group of women who raise and allocate funds for Alternatives to Violence, Loveland, CO.

She recently was honored for being a P.E.O. sister for 70 years. P.E.O. was very important to her. Marion was also selected to be interviewed for a feature article in Book Women for the June-July 2017 edition of the magazine.

Marion led a loving and joyful life. She made friends wherever she went and touched the lives of all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at 10 A.M. Friday, January 19 at Good Samaritan Spiritual Life Center. Burial of her ashes (at a later date) will be at Resthaven Cemetery, located in Des Moines, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Barry Freeman Memorial Fund, University of Iowa Foundation, Levitt Center, One West Park Road, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244 or Alternatives to Violence, 541 E. 8th Street, Loveland, CO 80537.