Robert "Bob" Coulson Freeman II

Robert "Bob" Coulson Freeman II of Toledo, Ohio passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Hospice of Northwest Ohio on August 19, 2022. Bob was born to Robert Coulson Freeman, Sr. and Ruth Louise Freeman on October 28, 1941. A native Toledoan, Bob loved growing up and living his entire life here. A graduate of Libbey High School, he earned his degree in business with a minor in English from Ohio University in 1963. Bob began his professional career in labor relations and human resource management for Doehler-Jarvis and later served as a director for The Lathrop Company and The Medical College of Ohio where he was integral in founding the campus, taking part in the groundbreaking of the hospital and university we know today. In 1976 he accepted a vice president of personnel position at First National Bank of Toledo. He was later promoted to an executive position responsible for the bank's branch system, all personnel, marketing and public relations, management information systems and account processing operations. After leaving the bank, Bob was a principal in a business consulting firm and ultimately returned to the medical college in 2005 as a department administrator until his retirement in 2011. A consummate man for others, Bob was most proud of identifying and mentoring employees into positions of greater responsibility and authority and was particularly proud of promoting many women and minority employees into leadership positions. In addition to his professional career, he was very active on numerous community and civic committees and served on the Board for Family Services of Greater Toledo, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the board at the Toledo Country Club. In his civic endeavors, Bob was most proud of being a member of the Ohio Air National Guard receiving his honorary discharge from the 180th in 1972 after completing six years of service. In his personal life, Bob enjoyed so much of what life had to offer. His fondest memories of his youth include his family's annual summer road trips cross-country. Many of them were made before the interstate highways were built. Thanks to those travels along with trips later in life, Bob has the privilege to say he has visited every state, been to every major national park, and most of the nation's most significant historical landmarks. Bob enjoyed playing board and card games with family and friends and played them all in a competitive manner. Bridge was the game he was most fond of. He and his wife, Josie, played duplicate bridge with friends and competitively in a retiree group twice a week for many years. An avid Ohio sports fan dating back to the 1940's, he always knew Ohio State's new 5-star recruits, when to turn off a Browns game so he could enjoy his Sunday, and his handheld radio was always tuned into the Indians game. Golf too was a pursuit for Bob. He and his family truly enjoyed over three decades of membership at Toledo Country Club where Bob famously had his two career holes-in-one. With his wife Josie, who was several times a club champion, they enjoyed many competitive Sunday golf rounds together. Bob was an avid reader and enjoyed being a member of a book club and adding to the discourse in his topical discussion group. Whether in business or retirement, Bob valued his lunch meetings with associates and friends and will miss tossing peanut shells on the floor at Dale's Bar and Grill, where he kept a seat warm for over 30 years. As a lifetime Toledoan who was involved civically, Bob spent much of his life enjoying the vast cultural offerings and entertainment Toledo had to offer. The Toledo Zoo, Toledo Jazz Orchestra and Toledo Symphony Orchestra being some of his favorites. Personally invested, he was so proud of the resurgence of downtown Toledo. Both over years and especially more recently, Bob truly enjoyed dining out in the many fine restaurants Toledo had to offer. Bob's affinity for cuisine propelled him to develop an insatiable appetite for cooking, especially in retirement. Famously he would procure the "necessary" ingredients from no less than three to four grocery stores every Saturday for his meal of the week. With ingredients and menu in hand, he enjoyed hosting dinner parties for friends and cherished many a Sunday dinner with his family. Bob was the central figure in the Freeman family. He was the keeper and purveyor of the family genealogy dating back into the 1800's. Placing the utmost value on family, he annually played the host for most holiday celebrations and sought out opportunities to connect in between. Bob was immensely proud of his family with all they had achieved and come to be and much of that is owed to him. He was a patient teacher and got immense enjoyment seeing his children learn a new skill. When Sarah needed a pep talk before a track meet, it was he who helped with the necessary motivation. After teaching Bo to throw a curve ball he caught one on the ankle, proudly carrying around a mark for years. He always took up the opportunities for college visits and as professionals he has continually been there to lend his wisdom and celebrate the big wins. Although he has only one of each, he is truly grateful for his "favorite" son-in-law, Erik, and "favorite" daughter-in-law, Melissa, for what they have meant to the family and how they've helped to grow this small family. With three grandchildren from his daughter Sarah and one from his son, Bob cherished his role as "Grandpa". His love and interest in the grandchildren was unending and, ever-willing to pass on his gentle sensibilities and thoughtfulness, his legacy will be intact for generations to come. Bob felt blessed with his many friends and wonderful family. His hopes are he will be remembered for being a kind person, for his sense of humor, as a good listener and as someone who was there whenever you needed a helping hand. He would like to give thanks to all those who helped him in his career and for those who made life's journey such an enjoyable ride. Especially to CM, EB and GC, here's to you! Bob is survived by his wife Josette (Josie) Freeman who he admired dearly and loved deeply and appreciated intensely for all that she did for him and on behalf of the family; daughter, Sarah Fritzsche and her husband Erik; son, Robert "Bo" Coulson Freeman III and his wife Melissa; and grandchildren Elsa, Norah and Callum Fritzsche and Coulson Freeman; sister Pamela "Pammy" Roepke, her husband David Roepke and her children Leslie and Peter. As he had often liked to do at 5pm, or sometimes a little before, or after he cut the lawn at noon - Cheers! Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Friday, August 26 from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43615. Interment will follow at Fish Cemetery, 15025 Zepernick Rd., Pemberville, OH 43450. In lieu of flowers Bob and the family have designated gifts in his honor be directed to benefit the Toledo Symphony Orchestra or Epworth United Methodist Church. Please view and sign the online guest registry at www.coylefuneralhome.com

Robert "Bob" Coulson Freeman II

October 28, 1941 - August 19, 2022