Michael Freeman

Michael Bruce Freeman was born to the late Azalia Brower and Cliff Freeman on March 10, 1953 in Aurora, Colorado. He attended elementary and junior high in the Denver area, graduating from Eastern High School in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1971. He was competitive in soccer, football and track. Mike attended Eastern Nazarene College in Boston, Massachusetts for one year studying psychology and then worked in the construction business.

Mike found his calling when he was hired as a Firefighter with the Cherry Hills Fire Protection District on November 2, 1974, promoting to Engineer in 1985. In 1989, the Cherry Hills Fire Protection District merged with the Castlewood Fire Protection District (now South Metro Fire Rescue) and Mike continued to serve as an Engineer, and as the most senior active member, with a total of 43 years in the fire service.

Mike was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in late May of 2017 and passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, July 16, 2017.

Mike loved being a Firefighter/Engineer and helping people. He left a legacy of fond and cherished memories with everyone who worked with him, knew him, and citizens that he helped over the decades. His calling was to serve the public and he did that every day with a kind heart and smile. He will be profoundly missed by everyone whose life he touched.

Mike is survived by sister Kelli Peach of Denver, Colorado; daughter Aimee (Levi) Dunn of Littleton, Colorado; son Nicholas (Jessica) Thiel of Crestwood, Kentucky. Mike is proceeded in death by son Dane (Mackenzie Mattingly) Freeman of Louisville, Kentucky.

South Metro Fire Rescue will be honoring this line of duty death with a memorial service and celebration of life on Friday, July 21st at 11:00 a.m. at the Denver First Church (Church of the Nazarene), 3800 East Hampden Avenue, Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113, followed by a procession of fire and law enforcement units to the Chapel Hill Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, Cemetery & Arboretum, Wheat Ridge, CO.

For those who are unable to attend on Friday and would like to watch the memorial service, a live video feed will be provided at this link...

http://denverfirstchurch.churchonline.org