Obituary of John Collins Freeman
Born January 29, 1928 in Evanston, Illinois to Alexander Riddler Freeman and Ruth Halsey. Died January 18, 2023 Boise. John was a genuine gentleman. Educated in Evanston , he attended Duke and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1949 with a BA in Political Science and Economics.
Served in the US forces in Austria with the Medical Corps from November 1950 to November 1952 as a corpsman and lab technician, while reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He married Vera Maxine Giles on February 23, 1957. They took their two sons to California in 1961 where they lived until 1990 when they chose retirement in Boise.
John had a 24-year career in college textbook publishing with Richard D Irwin/Dorset Press before retiring to become a small business owner in Santa Crus.
A member of Rotary since 1981 he promptly joined Boise Sou Rotary Club. He had served as president of his Club in California, and he promptly accepted whatever duty his new Club required. As Rotary District 5400 Governor 1996-1997 he (with Maxine) visited every club in the District. This duty was a joyful grand tour of Idaho
Always civic minded, he various served on boards: Little League, Opera, SCORE and Sons of the American Revolution.
John had a long-standing interest in genealogy and traced his family tree back to the 14th century England. He supported historical preservation organizations and was a life member of the VFW and American Legion. He held the VA in Boise in great regard. An avid sports fan, he was as a character scriber to Sports Illustrated.
John worshipped at Wright Congregational Church having served in various capacities at Methodist and Presbyterian churches.
The family thanks the VA and Horizon Hospice for exceptional care and comfort.
He is survived by his wife Maxine, sons Kenneth Collins, Douglas Giles and Doug’s wife Caroline Ann Curley along with the best grandsons ever: Matthew Alexander and Tyler Curley all All of Boise.
Internment will be a family service at the Idaho State Veteran’s Cemetery Columbarium. Memorials may be sent to Wright Congregational Church 4921 Franklin Road, Boise 83705 or Boise Southwest Rotary P.O. Box 8092, Boise 83707
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