Mary Clare Freeman

On November 17th, our mother, Mary Clare, died in peace at her home at age 94 of a “broken heart”, having lost her soulmate, Joe Freeman, in June, exactly five months before. Her last words were, “I want to go home to Joe.”

Mary was born on February 2nd, 1926, the second daughter of Virginia and Harold Collins. She mostly grew up in Wausau, part of a large Irish Catholic family. One brother, John Michael, died in adolescence, but her other siblings remained well until recently, when her older sister, Virginia Awe, and her other brother, Cornelius, died. Her two surviving sisters are Patricia Bortscheller and Margaret Kilby.

Mary Clare and Joe grew up kitty corner from each other and started dating the year Joe was Prom King. They married on August 21st, 1947, in Wausau. After marriage, she completed her Bachelors in Speech Correction and Childhood Development from UW-Madison. She soon was busy raising her five children who were born over seven years. After her youngest child was in grade school, she went back to get her Masters in Education and worked for many years as a speech therapist at Lincoln Grade School in Wausau. She was an active alumnus of UW-Madison and her involvement in their Alumni Association led to being recognized with the “Spark Plug” award at a Badger home game. She was on the Board of Visitors for the College of Letters and Science at UW-Madison. In addition, she served on and chaired many local boards receiving multiple awards, including Women of Vision. She taught by example to love one another, create change in the community, and to protect the environment.

Mary Clare and Joe were like two strong trees that had grown intertwined since young. Together they initiated a variety of community improvements including Wausau’s 400 Block, the Distinguished Faculty Series at the UW-Marathon County and the North Central Conservancy Trust. They are survived by their five children, three of whom live in the Wausau area: Mary Joe Freeman (David Tange); Linda Grilley (Ron); Greg Freeman (Carol nee Zimmerman). Time Freeman (Debbie nee Habeck) lives in Green Bay area, while Sean Freeman (Jewel) lives in Charlotte, NC. There are 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

In light of the coronavirus, Mary Clare’s funeral service is being delayed. We give special thanks to our sister, Linda, and her husband, Ron, for their involvment in our parent’s care, as well as to Aspirus Hospice Service. We also thank Father Mark Pierce, from The Church of the Resurrection. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please send donations to the D.J. and Mary Clare Freeman Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin.

One of Mary Clare’s favorite sayings, which typified her life, was:

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

May the rain fall soft upon your fields

And, until we meet again

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.