William Arthur Freeman

William Arthur Freeman, of Newburgh, ascended into heaven on Sunday, October 7, 2012, due to cancer and heart issues. He was born in Weed, California on December 20, 1928, to Greta and William H. Freeman.

He grew up in Rome, Iowa with his brothers, Gene and Larry, and sisters, Fern and Frances Ebbesmier. He worked on the farm as a young boy to help his mom support the family because his father died when he was 12. He was the oldest of the five children and was like a father to them after his father died.

William was preceded in death by his sister, Fern; his father and mother; step-father, Tom Freeman; and sister-in-law, Camille Calligan.

He went in to the Navy after high school and met the love of his life, Jacqueline, when he was stationed in New Orleans. They were married June 15, 1948, and were married for 64 years. After the Navy he went to work as an Electrical Apprentice at Alcoa in Davenport, Iowa.

In 1958 he and Jacqueline had a son, Mike. He took him everywhere and they were very, very close. He helped his son, Mike, start MCF Construction and volunteered his time for the first several years. He worked with Mike and the folks at MCF up until June 15th of this year when his back fractured from cancer.

In 1963, William was transferred to Alcoa Warrick Operations and moved to Newburgh. He oversaw the construction of the Alcoa Clubhouse and Ball Field. He volunteered many hours of his time after work working with fellow Alcoans on the Club House project.

He also ran the build on several houses for Habitat for Humanity here in the local community. He would show the new home owners how to do different kinds of work on their own home.

William loved Newburgh. He was active in providing the power system and hooking up vendors at the annual Fiddler Fest and Summer Fest each year in Newburgh. He was active in the construction of the Fortress of Fun in Newburgh Park and was presented the Key to the Town by the Town Board.

He had his voice box removed approximately 18 years ago and promised to do something good for people every day. That is when he started passing out silver dollars and ½ dollars to friends and strangers alike. He enjoyed helping people and giving and doing for others. The number of lives he touched were many, including his Alcoa family and his MCF Construction family. William also loved children and his four grandchildren, Katie, Grant, BJ and Travis.

Other surviving family members include his wife, Jacqueline H. Freeman; his brother-in-law, Jeffrey Calligan; his son, Mike Freeman; his daughter-in-law, Michelle Freeman, and her parents, Mark and Fredricka Wilderman; three sisters-in-law, Shirley Freeman, Maxine Freeman and Sandy Medine; his nieces and nephews, Bill Freeman, Debbie Winslow, Linda Houston, Sherrie Eddy, Diana Hummel, Tamara Russel, Theresa Houston, Tammy Medine and Joe Medine; and a bunch of great and great-great-neices and nephews.

Services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, October 13, 2012, at First Christian Church, 4544 State Route 261, Newburgh, officiated by Rev. Mike Claypool. Friends may visit Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Alexander Newburgh Chapel, 5333 State Road 261.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church of Newburgh.