Obituary of Gary L. Freeman

Gary L. Freeman, 75, of Tiffin will be watching this football season unfold from above following a valiant 17 month battle with liver and bone cancer. He passed away Friday Evening, August 19th in his home surrounded by his greatest success…his family. Gary Lee Freeman was born May 12, 1941, a life-long Iowa City boy, graduating from City High with the class of 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Gauper in 1962. Gary was a well-known area business man, owning and running Freeman Insurance Agency for over 37 years, before selling his company to the UICCU and retiring in 2013, but not before sharing his passion of insurance sales, now spanning into the fourth generation. In 2003, Gary married Carlin Lubben Matthews, who has been a loving wife, and devoted care giver through Gary’s illness and ultimately his death. Carlin will love him for the rest of her life! Gary’s loving spirit will also be carried on by his children, Susan Fischer (Tim) of Golden, CO and their children, Rebecca Fischer and Joel Vandenberg (Patti) and their daughter, Kiya; son, Scott Freeman (Sue) of Coralville and their children Taylor and Clay (fiancé Kayla) Freeman; son, Chad Freeman (Teresa) of Tiffin, and their children, Madison and Gage Freeman and Hunter and Hanna Stokes; brother, Robert Freeman (Marion) of Loveland, CO; Nancy Freeman (Mike) of Westminster, CO as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews and colorful friends. In death, Gary is reunited with his parents, Goldie and Ralph Freeman as well as his infant sister, Betty and brother, Jim. A preseason celebration of Gary’s life will be held 3-6 p.m., Wednesday August 24th at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or the American Cancer Society. Memories and online condolences may be shared with his family at www.gayandciha.com. May his laugh and wise old sayings resonate through us for many generations to come.