Patricia "Pat" Freeman

Patricia (Pat) Anne Freeman, 78, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2022, after many years of living with dementia. Pat was born on May 26, 1944, to Eila (Zimmerman) Bolan and Harold R. Bolan in Springfield, Ohio. In 1952, the family moved to Midland Michigan, where Pat attended Midland High School and graduated with honors in 1962. In 1963, Pat married Vance G. Anderson and had two daughters. They moved to Okemos, Michigan in 1977 where Pat was active in the Okemos Elementary PTO, served as a volunteer library assistant, and secretary of the H.E.L.O. Club. Pat worked as a professional secretary for over 35 years and earned her Professional Secretary International designation in 1985 and was named “Secretary of the Year” by the Lansing Tuebor Chapter of Professional Secretaries International in 1987. During her career, Pat worked for the Dow Chemical Company, the architectural firm of Freeman, Smith & Associates of Lansing, and the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors. Pat then went to work for the State of Michigan and retired from there in 1998. In 1990, Pat married Robert (Bob) L. Freeman and later, moved to Traverse City in retirement. Pat loved all outdoor activities, such as hiking and biking, and enjoyed reading, knitting, music and playing with her cat. She was a member of the Newcomers Club of Traverse City and served as secretary and was a board member for several years. She faithfully attended Grace Episcopal Church and was active in the Altar Guild, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and served as Vestry member, an usher and part-time bookkeeper. Pat’s motto in life was "The Best Way to Know Life is to Love Many Things” by Vincent Van Gogh. Everyone who knew her felt her kind, gentle heart, and generous nature. She was a wonderful mother, always supportive and loving, no matter what bumps along the road we faced. She will be missed by all, especially by her grandchildren whom she loved more than anything. We will never be able to fill the space left behind by her. Pat was predeceased by her husband, Bob, her parents, Eila and Harold, her brother, Clark Caterer and longtime partner, Larry Nuismer. She is survived by her two daughters, Kelly (Jonathan) Bradley of Fate, Texas, and Erin (Matthew) Filipich of Grand Ledge, Michigan; four grandchildren, Jacob Danders, Samantha Filipich, Wesley Stewart and Hayden Stewart; her sister, Linda Watterworth, niece Leslie (Aldrich) Woods and nephews, Donald Aldrich and Scott Caterer. Pat’s final resting place will be next to her beloved husband, Bob Freeman, at the Ogdensburg Cemetery on the Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City, Michigan. Plans are still being made to hold a memorial and graveside service sometime in the summer of 2023. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Pat’s name to the Capital Area Humane Society, https://www.cahs-lansing.org/support/donate/, or to the Dementia Society of America, https://www.dementiasociety.org/memorials. The family is being served by Mills Funeral Home, Peters & Murray Chapel, Grand Ledge.

Patricia "Pat" Freeman

May 26, 1944 - October 21, 2022