Obituary of William FREEMAN

FREEMAN, BILL November 17, 1928 _ March 16, 2007 It is with a mixture of great joy for a life well lived, and deep sadness at our loss of a truly remarkable and gentle man, that the family of William Ernest (Bill) Freeman, late of Regina, announce his release to the music of eternity after a long struggle with diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure. Bill was born in Yorkton, and lived almost all his life in the province he loved, raising a wonderful family, supporting his friends, making music and helping others to find beauty and fun in music. He worked first as a partsman for International Harvester, but spent most of his life as a professional musician, arranger, and instructor in reed & brass instruments. He taught privately for more than 30 years at Arcade Music and the Ken Jefferson Studio, and spent ten years instructing in the Grade Five Band Program in Regina's Public Schools. For more than four decades, he was arranger and sideman with bands such as Gene Dlouhy's Orchestra, Bob Moyer's Big Band, Mart Kenney's Orchestra, and the Happytimers' Polka Band on CBC Radio and CKCK-TV. He spent 25 years as an itinerant bandmaster in many Saskatchewan communities, including Yellow Grass, Punnichy, Lumsden, Rouleau, Lipton, Fillmore, Pangman and Stoughton. Among his happiest accomplishments was the knowledge that many youngsters, (and often their parents and grandparents as well), had fun and benefited from their time in bands that he conducted. For more than 20 years Bill was also a piano tuner, and continued to play his alto saxophone with a number of local orchestras, most recently the Band-its Concert and Jazz Bands. He also loved to play his tuba with the Queen City Brass Band, and at the annual Tuba Christmas celebration. Bill was a Life Member of the American Federation of Musicians Sask. Chapter. He was honored by the Regina Musicians' Assn. in 2003 by being named Member Emeritus for 41 years of membership, and in 2005 he received the Lt. Governor's Arts Award. Bill was predeceased by his parents, William and Winnifred Freeman, his younger sister Barbara and brothers Lionel and Bob, and his beloved son Mitchell on March 3, 2002. He is survived by Jean, his best friend and loving wife of 51 years, his son Jack (Anne) of Boston, MA, his daughter Willa (Chuck) Rudder of Regina, cherished grandchildren Jared Rudder and Christina Freeman, sister Arlene Hilton of Victoria, BC, brother Jim (Suzie) of Strathmore, AB, brother Rick (Lois) of Shellbrook, sister-in-law Elsie Freeman of Kelowna, BC, brother and-sister-in-law Jim and Sheila Arnett of Cochrane, AB, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and many loving friends, students, neighbors and fellow musicians. Our thanks to the legion of medical specialists and health service workers who assisted Bill through his long struggle. Special thanks to the staff in the Renal Unit of RGH, and to the many dialysis recipients who have become like a second family to us over the past two years. In lieu of flowers, please visit a shut-in or elderly relative or friend, make a donation to a musical organization, or the Mitchell Freeman Awards in Stage and Screen at the University of Regina's Conservatory of Performing Arts, (c/o External Relations, #210 North Residence, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2) or support Saskatchewan Express (2272 Pasqua St., Regina, SK, S4T 4M4). Speers Funeral Home is in charge of cremation. A farewell service for immediate family will be held, with a jam session and public celebration of Bill's life to be announced at a later date.