Robert L. Freeman Jr., a.k.a. “Bob Jr.” or “Bob,” passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends April 8, 2024, at his home in Clarissa. He was born Dec. 27, 1951, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Sauk Centre. He grew up a block north of that same hospital at Shady Lane Resort, located on Sauk Lake. He graduated from Sauk Centre Senior High in 1970 and received a degree from UND-Williston in 1973. Ten years later, he attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago with a diploma in Christian Education, graduating in December 1986, the 100th anniversary year of that Bible Institute.
Bob has enjoyed teaching the Word of God for over 40 years in various churches. The most important thing a person can know is how to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, verses 14-15, history tells us “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior are the two essential elements of God’s required response to His Gospel. Repentance means to turn from our old life of sin and turn to God through Jesus, His Son. Faith means that a person trusts God to save them from eternal hell through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That gift of eternal life comes by turning from sin and turning to Jesus, trusting Him alone to save us. Bob made that decision definite for himself when he was 28 years old. The best thing that could happen as a result of his death is to know that someone was saved for eternity because of their obeying the Gospel of Christ that they read in his obituary or heard about at his celebration of life service.
Bob and his loving wife Clare have four children who all live in Minnesota: Rob Freeman in Sauk Centre, Paula and husband James Chapman in Aurora, Daiv Freeman and wife Ritsuko in Long Prairie and Jonathan and wife Abby in Parker’s Prairie.
Bob was employed for several years in the family business, Bob’s Service and Grocery in Sauk Centre; then by Kraft Foods in Melrose from 1976-79. From 1980-83, he was a sales representative for MetLife Insurance Company, then for 19 years a field lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business and four years as a political researcher for National Write Your Congressman. He retired in 2014.
Bob’s hobbies included birding, traveling, wilderness mountain hiking, fine art photography, perennial gardening, fishing and, more recently, turning bowls and vases on his wood lathe.
He was preceded in death by his father Robert L. Freeman Sr.; his mother Vera E. Freeman; and his sisters Marie Marchkii and Vonnie Honken.
He is survived by his wife Clare and his four children. Also surviving are grandchildren Samantha Freeman of Long Prairie, and Spencer Freeman of Laguna Beach, California.
Memorials received by the family will be donated to Bob’s favorite ministries that were close to his heart.
Funeral services for Bob will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at Verndale Alliance Church, 109 NW Brown St., Verndale, MN. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., also on Saturday at the church. A coffee and desert fellowship will follow the service at the church. Graveside service will be at 4:30 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Sauk Centre.
Bob’s Care has been entrusted to the Northern Peace Funeral Home in Walker. Online condolences for the family may be given at www.northernpeace.com.
