James D. Gale Freeman

I always enjoyed talking to Jim when I was an active Knight’s member. I know he will have a special place in heaven.

Rob Goulet
White Rock

Colleen, so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad…wonderful written tribute to him. I think our dads had a lot in common… He’s with your mom now and looking down at you with love still. HUGS

Jo-Anne Farley
Edmonton, Alberta

Colleen,

… Over the years I often thought about the members of your family. It is heart warming to know that your father lived a long and fruitful life. It was especially nice to see the photograph of him. Although I hadn’t seen him in many, many years, it was nice to see he still had the intense yet very kind eyes and the happy smile. I can’t say I knew him or your mother well, but what I knew of them, they were persons of great integrity, honour, and love. Their legacy can be witnessed in the wonderful family they brought into this world. I’m sure you and the rest of your family miss them very much.

All the best to you and the rest of the Freeman family.

Michael Bradley

colleen,

i’m so sorry to hear about all of this; and daisy too! it must be some kind of karma because it’s not like i think of everyone i know every day but this morning about 4AM you popped into my head.

so i’m sending good wishes and thoughts your way.

kelby

Colleen,

I’m so sorry to hear that your father passed. And surprised it happened so soon. I’m so glad you had some time to spend with him these last few months. Be with your family, and let the healing process begin.

I’ll be in touch soon.

With sympathy,

Bonnie
Saugus, California

Colleen,

My sincere condolences. Our prayers are with you and your family.

God Bless

Faith

Faith Nouri
Nouri Law Corporation
One Pacific Plaza
7755 Center Avenue, Suite 615
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714.600.0600 O ext 202
562.594.5678 O ext 202
562.594.0038 F
faith@nourilaw.com
http://www.nourilaw.com

Sorry for mistype and grammar
Sent on the road from my iPhone

Hi Colleen,

So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Jeremy and your family. Hope you can all be together to celebrate your dad’s life.

Liz Phelan
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Dear Colleen,

I am sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Jeremy and your family.

Darlene

Your written salute to your Father was very moving Colleen…It brought a tear to my eyes…Thanks for sharing the kind of man he was and my sincerest condolences to you and those who knew and loved your Dad.

Rick LePage
Edmonton, Alberta

Colleen,
I am so sorry to hear of your sad news.

Sonia Chies
Sherwood Park, Alberta

So sorry to hear of your loss. Your tribute to your father is beautiful. Sounds like you have a lifetime of precious memories that will live on forever. Blessings to you & Jeremy.

Sandi Ranieri Sutherland

Colleen – love and prayers to you and your family. Your wonderful dad is now with your mom. I believe that your mom and dad (along with two of their best friends) are all watching over us!! They are all together again and probably having a party …. God bless all of them♥

Teresa Schrettlinger (Nee Semchuk)
Edmonton, Alberta

Beautiful testament to your Dad Colleen. Blessings…

DEAN SARNECKI
Sherwood Park, Alberta

Our condolences to you and your family Colleen. May you find comfort in the love of family and friends and peace with the memories you treasure and hold dear . Your dad and Daisy crossed the Rainbow Bridge together into the loving arms of family who went before them to everlasting peace. May God bless you and yours.

Barb Sedgwick (nee Kriese)
Edmonton, Alberta

Colleen, my sincere condolences on the loss of your father. My dad is 89 and my mom is 91 and everyday is a gift.

Palmdale, California

Colleen, Sorry for your loss, Hugs !

Paola Conejito
Edmonton, Alberta

Colleen… your tribute – this is so beautifully written… your Dad would be so proud and grateful. My deepest condolences to you and your whole family. Treasure this journey and hold dear all that your Dad taught you and shared from his heart. Angel Blessings to you all…

Carol Anne Kunicki

Colleen, I am so sorry for your loss of your dad. It sounds like he lived a good, long, full life. It must be some comfort that you were able to be with him through the end. He will watch over you always.

Katherine Wong
Los Angeles, California

Dear Colleen – I’m sorwry you have lost your dear Dad…such a sad time in your life. It’s good you were able to be with him to comfort him in the end. I hope you have a lovely gathering of family to celebrate his life and all that he meant to you. Hugs and love from Toronto.

Dear Colleen – It’s been a difficult time for you and your family this past while. Saying goodbye to loved ones is not easy. I have you and Jeremy in particular in my thoughts – I wish for you strength through the most sad moments. I know there are so many good memories and much love to fall back on.

xo Michelle

Michelle Lavoie

So sorry to hear about your losses. Your dad and Daisy are in a better place now and there will be no more suffering for them. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.

Ivy Scheetz (nee Holowaychuk)

My heart goes out to you Colleen.. What a wonderful tribute to your father. You are a wonderful daughter and I’m sure he was as proud of you as you are of him. Big hug and much love to you and your family. You were blessed. My sincere condolences.

Theresa Lunt (nee Muldoon)

Dearest Colleen,

I just received the message about your father’s transition. Know that I am incredibly sorry for your loss. Losing our dad is a tough one for we girls… I have always identified with being my father’s daughter.
I do love your writings above – such a lovely tribute to your dad. I have no doubt he was incredibly proud of you and I am happy that you were able to spend his final days with him. I, too, was able to do this with my father and those final two weeks were some of the finest moments of time I spent with him. And watching my dad pass was a gift because I knew he went peacefully, to be rejoined with family he dearly loved and missed.
There are times I still will pick up the phone to call him just to hear his voice and next year will be 20 years since he has been gone. How blessed you were to have enjoyed him for so long. He sounds like such a special man. I do recall meeting him once, but it was fleeting. We were young then and not only did we think we’d live forever, but we believed our parents would too. That life would never change.
Take comfort in your memories and hold them close to your heart. No one can take the love you shared away and those memories will bring you joyfulness and comfort when you feel alone. Know you are held and in my prayers. Life is hard and these moments of loss are the hardest. I will pray he comes to you in your dreams…
May he rest in eternal peace and may you take some comfort knowing he will be there to greet you with open and loving arms, when it is your turn to cross that bridge.
Much love….
xoxox
Wendy

Dear Colleen,
I send my deepest condolences to you. I am so glad that you were able to be with your Dad when he passed, so that he did not have to die alone. Your Tribute to your Father is very Beautiful, Genuine, Kind, Sincere, Loving, heart felt & moving, just like you are, my Friend. It brought tears to my eyes. Take care, Love you.

Leslie & Family….
Sorry to read of your Dad’s passing.
Take care…Gay

Sincere sympathy to Patrick, Norma and all your family. May the memories of your father be cherished forever.

colleen, thinking of you and hoping you find comfort with your family and friends. sending a big hug. love, bev.

(Facebook entry: on June 26, Tuesday, 2012 @ 2 a.m.)

JAMES GALE DWIGHT FREEMAN: Born August 23, 1923. Died: June 26, Tuesday, 2012 at 12:31 a.m.. Beloved Husband of 68 years to Kathryn Christena Mac Isaac. (Born April 23, 1924. Died: September 26, 2002). Decorated World War II Veteran in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Past National President of the 700 Wing Association, & Past President of the Edmonton, Alberta local Association. Accelerated from Grade 5 to Grade 7. Honor student for 12 years. Could figure out mathematical equations in his head without any paper & pencil. Grade 10 Royal Conservatory Piano. Excellent ball room dancer. Loved to read Encyclopedias from cover to cover and always knew all the Jeopardy answers. Loved to travel. Excellent host. Had a sharp sense of humor. Beloved Father of Hugh, Leslie, Sylvia, Patrick and Colleen. Grandpa of Marcus, Katy, Julie, Erin, Jessica, Jeremy, Daniel, Lisa, Michael, Mallory & James. Great Grandpa of Jack, Henry & Clair. Was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus & very active member in Star of the Sea Catholic Church in White Rock, B.C. Was an Accountant for Swift Canadian for over 40 years: never late for work & never missed a day of work. He also worked in the summers at the Northlands Racetrack. Known to tell me to eat my vegetables so that I grow hair on my chest. Probably a good idea, since Edmonton can go down to -40 F in the winters. Told me if I got 80% on a test, “why didn’t I get 90%?” I will never forget when we were in I.G.A. Grocery store together & Margaret Glanz, a young neighbour girl across the street was our cashier. She gave my dad back $50 instead of $5, in change. He quietly told her that he only needed $5 back & gave it back to her. She was very grateful, practically in tears & thanked him repeatedly, as she could have been fired. My Dad showed me that he was honest & humble. He never took advantage of that situation, when he well could of. A Father raising 5 kids, could have used the extra money…. He instilled a strong sense of loyalty, hard work, dedication, strong work ethic & a joy of music. From Nat King Cole, to Johnny Mathis, to Glen Miller, Guy Lombardo, the Tijuana Brass, Musicals such as The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun, Oliver!, Camelot, My Fair Lady, & Marching Band Music. Told me that my Mom had great legs. My Dad was very Masculine, strong & handsome. I’d say tall, dark & handsome, except that Dad was only 5′ 6 & a half inches tall. He was a sensitive man & very sentimental.My Dad would blush if there were women underwear commercials on, so he was out going & social, but had a shy side as well. He & my Mom enjoyed socializing with their many close friends & with their brothers & their spouses. He loved to go for long drives & had an excellent sense of direction. Grew up Protestant, but became Roman Catholic in order to marry my Mom. He met her in Regina, Saskatchewan where he was in training for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He met her at a skating rink and asked her if she would “like this skate”. They loved to skate & dance together. My Dad was athletic when he was young: skiing, basketball, hockey, & enjoyed golf in later years. James Gale Freeman, was the perfect gentlemen. He always opened up doors for women, including car doors & always helped my Mom with her coat. He always insisted when I walk down the street with him, that “the man always walks on the outside, in order to protect the woman”. He was chivalrous. My Dad was a morning person, & liked to have routine, by clock work. He was always on time & early. He had an equal relationship with my Mom. They made all their decisions about everything, jointly. My parents were ahead of their time in being modern in a lot of their thinking. My Dad never had a car accident or a speeding ticket. My Dad was the closest that Jeremy had ever known for being a Permanent, Stable, Constant, Affectionate, Father figure in his life. Dad loved Jeremy for who Jeremy was, was really proud of all his accomplishments, & didn’t expect Jeremy to be someone he wasn’t. . His nickname for Jeremy was J.J. – Jeremy James, after his Grandpa. Jeremy spent a lot of time with my Mom & Dad in White Rock. Two days ago, when my Dad was still able to speak to me, I told him that he was so handsome. He told me, “I still am”. Even in dying, my Dad still had his sense of humour. Last night I held my dear dog Daisy as she lay dying in my arms. Tonight, I held my dying Father in my arms, as he gurgled in his chest in his efforts to struggle to breathe. I held his big strong hand, sadness overwhelming me, but relief for my Dad knowing that when he took his last breath, he was finally at peace. I told my Dad that he could let go now, that I loved him & that Mom was waiting for him. He took 2 final breaths, as I held him in my arms & Jeremy held his hand & then, he was gone…Two days ago, he told me he saw his Mother & his Father & his sister Holly. He asked for his brothers, Roger, Elwyn & Garth. And Garth again. I asked him if Mom was there, & he said that he didn’t see her yet. He also asked me who the man was that was standing at the end of his bed. There was no man there. At least, I couldn’t physically see anyone… James Gale Freeman, Gale to some, Jim to some, James to some, lived a life of 88 years. He endured the Depression, World War II, saw the aftermath of the concentration camps in Germany, & always paid honour on Remembrance Day to the Veterans. He was a proud man, & didn’t show his feelings,he liked to give hugs, but I knew that my Dad was Proud of me & of Jeremy. And that’s good to know. I have lived with the regret for the past 10 years of being unable to be with my Mom when she died. I do not have that regret with my Dad, & I’m so very grateful that I was able to spend this precious time with him. You’re free now Dad. Your brain & your thoughts are clear. You’re able to see Grandpa & Grandma Freeman, Mom, Aunt Holly, Aunt Faye, Grandpa & Grandma Mac Isaac, Uncle Bernie,Aunt Elinor, Aunt Alice, Uncle Ed, Aunt Esther, Al Smitten, Marie Corcoran, Jim & Joan Calder, Uncle Wally, Daisy, Shenzi & Chloe. Dance like you always did, Dad, light on your feet. Give Mom a big hug & kiss for me. Watch over me Dad. I love you & I will miss you. Love, your youngest, Colleen. oxo

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the families. Gale/Uncle Gale will be remembered as a good worker and a good man who provided well for his family. Aunt Kay and Uncle Gale created a good Christian home for their family and had a good and long married life together. We remember the many barbeques and family times enjoyed in Edmonton. The BBQ steaks were always the best since they were purchased from Swifts!

We are sad to hear he is gone and will always remember him fondly.

Ray, Don and Sandra

Gale was my God Father as he is listed on my birth certificate that way. When I think of Uncle Gale I smell the aroma of his ever present cigars. In my teen years I admired his work getting Swift’s computerized.
He was a kind and loving father.

Hughey and I shared many adventures at the lake. Hunting bird eggs and frogs with Hughey is still a great memory.

My mom and Dad were and the Freemans were close friends for many decades.I know Mom and Dad will miss Gale and remember him with love and fondness in their hearts.

May God Bless All

Philip Hague