Michael E. Freeman of Whitefish Bay died of complications from pneumonia on July 15. He was 71.
Born in Hannover, Germany, Freeman immigrated to the United States when he was one year old. After living in New York for about a year, his family settled in Glencoe, Ill. He graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., in 1953, from the University of Michigan in 1957, and from Harvard Law School in 1961.
Freeman moved to Milwaukee after law school and worked as an attorney at law firms Quarles, Herriott & Clemons (now Quarles & Brady LLP), Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, as legal counsel at Manpower Inc., and as a solo practitioner.
A member of the boards of directors of Jewish Family Services, Inc., and the American Jewish Committee-Milwaukee Chapter, Freeman also volunteered as a reading tutor in Milwaukee Public Schools, as a lawyer with the Milwaukee Bar Association, and with the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
Freeman loved sports and enjoyed playing tennis, golf, snow skiing and bridge.
“Mike bravely struggled with Parkinson’s [disease] for eight years; even then, he was a true mensch by any definition, a compassionate, kind and genuine person, ready with a joke and always the gentleman,” according to the obituary in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Freeman was preceded in death by sister Jacqueline Freeman. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sue Freeman (nee Winter) of Milwaukee; daughters Ellie Freeman (Jeff) Byrd and Kathy Freeman (Daniel) Lederman, both of Burlingame, Calif. and Gail Freeman (Louis) Feinstein of Baltimore, Md.; brother Thomas (Joan) Freeman of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; and nine grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home. Services were officiated by Rabbi David Cohen at Congregation Sinai on July 17. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.
The family appreciates memorial contributions to Jewish Family Services, Inc., or the Wisconsin Parkinson Association, 945 N. 12th St., Milwaukee, 53233.
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