Jean C. Freeman

Jean C. Freeman passed away at home from congestive heart failure and dementia with her daughters and granddaughters by her side on November 19, 2020.

Jean Dagmar Christensen was born to Chris and Ann Christensen, on June 15, 1928 at the family ranch on the Cheyenne River, near Roxon, WY. Two brothers, Fred and Russ, joined her and all three loved growing up on the ranch. She rode her horse to school from age five in first to seventh grade. She skipped eighth grade so she could join Fred at Newcastle High School and stay together in a boarding house, only going home to the ranch on weekends. Jean excelled and graduated at the age of sixteen, and she was awarded a scholarship to Colorado Women's College in Denver, CO, where she studied for 2 years. She graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts at the University of WY at the age of nineteen.

Jean's first teaching job was in Hanna, WY, and it was there that she met her future husband, Robert Freeman. They were married on October 14, 1950, and two weeks later, the US Army sent Bob to the Korea Conflict. Jean returned to the ranch to teach at the Seven Mile School while she waited for Bob. Upon his return, Bob spent the next year driving the country school bus while Jean taught. In 1953, Linda was born and the family moved to Pocatello, ID, so Bob could go to trade school to become a diesel mechanic. Bob worked in ID as a diesel mechanic, and then they moved to Casper where LuAnn was born in 1956. Jean stayed at home with the girls until she returned to teaching in 1963 and taught for twenty-four years at Pineview Elementary School. She taught for a total of twenty-nine years altogether.

Jean and Bob enjoyed traveling to many faraway places including Hawaii, Europe, and Alaska, but some of the fondest family trips took place closer to home, fishing in the Big Horns, at Cow Creek and Pathfinder Dam; hunting sage chickens around Hanna; and hunting deer and antelope at the Christensen ranch. Their greatest joy was spending time with those they loved, especially their two granddaughters, Lindsey and Andi.

In 2012, the Casper Journal published an article about Jean and her lifelong passion for learning, highlighting her love of pottery and quilting. She attended pottery classes at Casper College for over forty years until she was 91. She created and shared countless pieces of pottery and numerous quilts. Jean loved to pass on her knowledge and fulfilled her career as an educator in many ways. She possessed many other talents, from being a fantastic cook to an expert shot with a rifle.

She is survived by Linda (Chuck) Becker and LuAnn Miller of Casper; granddaughters, Lindsey (Jeff) Eidsness and Andi Miller of Casper; great-grandsons, Hudson and Sawyer Eidsness and a great granddaughter who will be born in March; brother, Chris Russell Christensen of Newcastle, WY; sister-in-law, Shirley Freeman of Ft. Collins, CO; and multiple nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob in 2003, parents, Chris and Ann Christensen; brother, Fred and his wife Jess; sister-in-law, Ruth Christensen; and nephews, Steve, Mark and Mike Christensen.

Thank you to the kind nurses from the Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions for your assistance with our mother. Memorials in Jean's honor may be made to Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions, to Meals on Wheels, or to a future scholarship fund to be set up for the Casper College Ceramics Department.

Jean will be missed by many, but her family is grateful her life was so full of learning, friends, family, and love.

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