Joy M. Freeman

Joy Mae Freeman, of Davenport, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2014 at the University of Iowa Hospital, following complications from a stroke the previous day. Visitation will be Thursday, from 4 to 7 pm at The Runge Mortuary. Funeral services will be Friday, January 10, 2014 at 10:00 am at The Runge Mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Ridgecrest, Heritage Wesleyan Church in Rock Island or to King’s Harvest. Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com. Joy was born June 27, 1928 in Louisiana, the daughter of Jack and Beulah Collins. Her family moved to Texas then settled in Washington State, where Joy spent the majority of her childhood before moving back to Texas. It was there that she met and married Robert (Bob) Freeman, with whom she shared sixty-one years of marriage. They moved to Davenport, Iowa in 1965, where they raised their family, then lived in Rock Island, Illinois for many years.

Joy most recently enjoyed living in the Ridegcrest Retirement Community. Throughout her life, she exemplified her name by sharing her contagious joy and zest for life. She loved Jesus and her family, was constantly singing and dancing any time she was able to and laughed often. Joy had a spirit of adventure and enjoyed traveling, roller skating, playing the piano, telling stories and enjoying nature by taking long walks. Joy raised and is survived by four children: Linda (James) Carroll; Robert “Bobby” (Joyce) Freeman, Jr., Connie (Ray) Henderson and Karen (Mark) Freeman. Besides her children, Joy leaves nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. A loving wife, mother and grandmother, she was preceded in death by her husband Robert on September 15, 2008 along with her parents.