Howard Russel Freeman, 93, of Wooster died on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Danbury of Wooster.
He was born April 7, 1930 in Toledo to Howard Zelle and Anna Short Freeman. On December 26, 1953, he married Teresa Cannon, whom he met at Camp Ohio. She survives.
Howard was a 1948 graduate of Worthington High School where he played football and ran on the district championship track team. He qualified for the state track meet in the individual mile run. Howard was also a lifelong member of the Worthington High School Alumni Association.
He was a 1953 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Animal Science/Husbandry and had been a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Fraternity. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1953-55 as a 1st Lieutenant.
He was the retired owner of Freeman Construction Company, general contractor and builder of many local buildings including most of the Rubbermaid campus and College of Wooster facilities including Scheide Music Center, Timken Gymnasium, Freedlander Theater, the original Lowry Center and Andrews Library. His personal signature project was the renovation of St. Mary Church. Beyond the local area, Freeman Construction completed projects throughout Ohio and in other states such as New York, Tennessee and Texas.
As a lifelong cattle farmer, he won the Grand championship for the pen of five beef cattle at the 1972 Ohio State Fair and also founded and was head advisor of the Franklin Beef Feeders 4-H club. He was involved in 4-H for most of his life, including his time at OSU. He attended the family camp and mens camps at Kelley’s Island 4-H Camp. He was also a member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, the Wooster Elks Lodge, Rotary International, and Wooster Country Club. At the age of 89, he hit two holes-in-one in consecutive rounds within a three day window. He was also a member of the 20/30 club and the Knights of Columbus, where he obtained 4th Degree status. He served on the Wayne County Board of Developmental Disabilities and had been president of the Triway Athletic Booster Club. Multiple times he initiated and oversaw improvements and preparation of the track and field surface prior to the Triway Invitational. He served on the planning and fundraising committees for the all-weather track upgrade at Triway. When the 1984 Triway boys track team won the school’s first team District Championship, Howard gifted team members with a silver track shoe charm as someone had done for his District Championship team at Worthington.
Along with his wife, Howard is survived by his children Daniel (Laurie) Freeman and Jon Freeman both of Wooster, Maria Hirst of Delaware, OH, Laurie (John) Hamilton of Kirkland, WA and Joseph Freeman of Salt Lake City, UT; grandchildren Curtis, Stewart, Elyse Freeman, Daniel (Jennifer) Hirst, Kathryn (Brad) Hutson, Morningstar Hirst, Meghan and Brooks Hamilton; great grandchildren Noah Hirst, Zoey and Oliver Hutson; along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Elizabeth Freeman McCoy, Rosemary Buchwalter and brother Michael Freeman.
A Service of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 11:30 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church, 527 Beall Ave., with Fr. Stephen Moran officiating. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery.
Friends will be received on Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 PM at McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691. The family would like to thank the care staff of Ohio Hospice LifeCare and Danbury Senior Living for their exceptional support.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
So sorry for your loss Maria
I’m so deeply saddened to hear of Uncle Howard’s passing. My condolences to Aunt Teresa and my cousins. May God’s peace and love comfort you.
I want to send my condolence to the Freeman family. As a long time golf partner in many golf tournaments and matches at WCC, he drove our opponents crazy when he’d roll in a long putt or make a short putt to win the hole or the match. I enjoyed the golf trips I took him on when we’d go to Cincinnati to play a Ryder Cup style match at a club in the area. Finally, when we’d come home from Cincinnati, he’d always have me go into his garage with him and he’d hand me several egg cartons of slightly used Titleist golf balls he found in his son’s front yard while he mowed his yard. I considered him a great golfing buddy! Howard, may you rest in peace.
I am so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. I’ve cherished memories of your family.
May God give you peace and comfort.
Much love to all my cousins and Aunt Teresa.
What a wonderful life full of accomplishments and love for his community. God be with you in your sorrow and loss.
Robin and I are saddened by Howard’s passing, a loss to the Freeman clan and your extended family and friends.
Sending my love and condolences to Theresa and family for the loss of Howard R. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dan and family I am so sorry for your loss. Howard was always someone I whished i could have been a mouse in his pocket for a day or two to learn from him. He accomplished so much over the years. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time
Thank you for your service. Condolences to the family.
Dan,
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Bill Blincoe (Owensboro, Ky.)
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. I have many fond memories of Howard at Wooster Country Club, and also learned a few life lessons from him. My thoughts and prayers are with you 🙏♥️
Joan and I are so sorry to hear of Mr. Freeman’s passing. We lived across the street for 4 years and have so many great memories of conversations by the mailbox, of watching him attack the never ending leaves on his lawn, and hearing his many golf stories. We missed them both when they moved to Danbury, and we miss them even more now. Rest in peace.
You are all in our prayers as you miss Howard. What an example of living one’s life to the fullest!
Elsa and Dennis Boen
It breaks my heart to hear of Howards passing what a great person and friend. I pray for peace for the Freeman family. Howard always had a kind smile and brightened many lives. Rest in peace Howard I will miss you dearly my friend.
Teresa,
So sorry to see the passing of your husband. Praying peace and comfort for you during this very difficult time.
Love and hugs to you, friend.
Kim
Condolences to the Freeman family for the loss of top-shelf human being. Proud to call himmy friend, albeit for just a few years.l, recently.
My sincere sympathy to Teresa and the Freeman family. They were neighbors and friends for.decades. I have been living at Danbury for weeks and not able to attend services for Howard because of health reasons. I will make a donation to Hospice in his name from our family.RIP, Howard.
Sincerest condolences on the passing of a very special person!
Tom Lavelle, Tamassee, SC
Wooster resident 1986-2007
Howard was determined to build the roads at Wulamo, which was next door to the stone house where he then lived and had raised his family. Late one afternoon I found Howard atop a massive vibrator/roller, normally manned by the skilled heavy equipment operators Howard employed. He immediately had me climb up and showed me how to run the thing. Then he hopped off to amble across the field to dinner. He yelled one final instruction: “Keep it moving. If you stop it will vibrate a hole to China.”
For the next hour or so until dark, I had a blast. Just as Howard knew I would.
Sending condolences to all the Freeman Family –
I realize it’s been a couple of months but I keep thinking of him and the famly.
Uncle Howard had such great energy; I remember his passion for OSU—go Buckeyes. I remember going to a football game with him, my husband, and my parents, who were long-time OSU friends. We couldn’t find him. My dad said to follow the band, and we’ll see him there. Yup, if he could have led the band, he would have! You can lead them now, Uncle Howard.