Patrick LaVern Freeman

PATRICK FREEMAN

GRAFTON – Patrick LaVern Freeman, 72, passed away at 9:56 a.m., Friday, January 29, 2021 in the Emergency Room at Jersey Community Hospital.

He was born on May 6, 1948 in Alton, one of four children born to the late LaVern and Charlotte (Wallace) Freeman.

A lifelong resident of Grafton, Patrick graduated with the Class of 1966 from Jersey Community High School. He went on to further his education at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and Lewis and Clark Community College, obtaining his Associates of Applied Science Degree in Business.

He began his working career at McDonnell Douglas, prior to his marriage to Sheryl L. Shafer on December 12, 1969 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grafton.

Throughout their 51 years of marriage, the two were blessed with three children and the joys of their seven grandchildren that followed.

Patrick also worked for a number of years at Prairie Farms, in addition to the State of Illinois and retired after many years of service as a Truck Driver for Pepsi.

He was a member of Teamsters Local 525 in Alton, Illinois and was actively involved in both Ducks Unlimited and Migratory Waterfowl Hunters.

He enjoyed watching WWF Wresting, was an avid St. Louis Cardinals Fan and enjoyed spending time outdoors, most especially his time in the Duck blinds, hunting.

He will be fondly remembered by his friends and family as a kind man with a generous and giving heart and for his one of a kind sense of humor.

Surviving are his wife, Sheryl Freeman of Grafton; a son and daughter in-law, Bart and Casey Freeman of Jerseyville; two daughters and a son in-law, Wendy Freeman of Grafton and Heather and Donnie Calvin of Grafton; seven grandchildren, Thomas, Marcus and Gracie Freeman, Isabella Calvin, Hailey Feldman, Tessa Calvin and Shelby Freeman; a brother and sister in-law, Danny and Jana Freeman of Grapevine, Texas; a sister and brother in-law, Judy and Daryl Owens of Santa Fe, New Mexico; as well as a sister in-law, Karen Freeman of Fieldon.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dennis Freeman on September 21, 2020.

A  public Memorial Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, February 4, 2021 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Due to current COVID-19 mandates, a private Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grafton on Friday, February 5, 2021.

Family and friends are invited to join the family for a graveside service on Friday, February 5, 2021 at approximately 11:45 a.m. at Scenic Hill Cemetery in Grafton.

Immediately following the graveside service, a luncheon and celebration of life will be held at the Grafton American Legion.

In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to Migratory Waterfowl Hunters or to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

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