Joan Freeman

Joan Freeman, 93, of LeRoy, Kansas, passed away peacefully, with her family at her side, on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the Coffey County Hospital in Burlington.

Hellen Joan Freeman was born March 16, 1931, at Falls City, NE, the daughter of Ray J. and Grace K. (King) Bader. She spent her childhood in Falls City and graduated from Falls City High School in 1949. She then attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO, for one year before transferring to Emporia Kansas State Teacher's College in Emporia, KS. She earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education Degree in 1952. It was during her time at Emporia that she became acquainted with Bill Freeman, a fellow student. They were married on August 22, 1954, at the First Christian Church in LeRoy. They became the parents of two children, Jeff and Jennifer.

Joan taught elementary school at LeRoy, Fremont, NE, and Osawatomie, KS. After her and Bill's retirement they returned to LeRoy 1990 where Joan continued to teach as a substitute teacher at LeRoy. She loved teaching and left a lasting legacy with her students.

Joan's strong Christian faith played an important role in her life, she was a member of the First Christian Church in LeRoy and a member of the Christian Women's Fellowship. She was a Life Member of the Order of the Eastern Star being a member for more than 70 years. She was also a member of the PEO Sisterhood in Lawrence, KS, the Kansas Federation of Republican Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, and she had served as Republican Precinct Committeewoman. She was a past-member of the LeRoy Cemetery Assoc. and in 1986 she was a finalist for the Athena award in Coffey County.

Joan and her husband Bill were strong boosters of LeRoy, providing the major funding for the LeRoy Community Building and the funding for construction of the native rock planters downtown LeRoy were among many the many contributions for the area. They also established numerous educational scholarships for Kansas colleges.

Joan enjoyed sports and was an avid KU and KSU football and basketball fan and Kansas City Chief's fan. She enjoyed sunflowers and wheat. She loved her former students but most of all she loved being Nane to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her husband, Bill, preceded her in death on December 18, 2015. She was also preceded by her parents and her brother, Robert Bader.

She leaves her children, Jeff Freeman (Eve), LeRoy, KS, and Jennifer Freeman Liles (Lewis), Harveyville, KS; three grandchildren, Tyler Meats (Dana), LeRoy, Bryson Meats (Alex), LeRoy, and Kaitlyn Meats (Madison), Gridley, KS; two great-grandchildren, Connor and Renlee Meats; four nephews, Douglas, Jonathan, Eric, and Joel Bader; a niece, Debbie Sherrick-Mitzner (Tim); numerous former students; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 13, 2025, at the First Christian Church in LeRoy. Burial will follow in LeRoy Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the SCC Honor Flight and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.