Lenore Freeman

M. Lenore Freeman, 100, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2025 surrounded by her loving family in the same home where she had lived and rasied her children since 1952.

Lenore was born September 21, 1924 in Allerton, Iowa to her parents, Lena and Benjamin Gibbs. Lenore worked as an an accountant for many years and retired in 1990. She was a member of Epworth Methodist Church, MENSA, and the Iowa Genealogical Society. Lenore was a founding member of the Iowa Genealogical society and the GIBBS family newsletter. Extended family around the country loved receiving her quarterly newsletters, exchanging historical records and family stories, many of which were compiled into over a dozen large volumes of genealogical history. Lenore was a Daughter of the American Revolution, a Boy Scout den mother, a licensed teacher, a realtor, owned multiple businesses with her husband Paul and was an accomplished seamstress. Paul and Lenore enjoyed dancing, picnics, long car rides to search for family headstones and hiking at Ledges State Park.

Lenore was a strong determined woman and would always lend a helping hand. She lived by example, facing life with grace and dignity even through the storms. Her grandaughters will always remember her special birthday cupcakes, her heavenly chocolate chip cookies and tasty beef & noodles. Her family will always remember how she would sing while making Sunday breakfast.

Lenore will be dearly missed. May her memory be eternal.

She is survived by her son, Mike (Carol Bogan) Freeman; granddaughters, Christine Taylor, Venus (Joe) Vendoures Walsh, Maria (Jeff) Mills, Eleanora (Scott Budge III) Vendoures, Sophia Jones, and Georgia (Will Garcia) Vendoures; grandson, Rick Hethershaw; great granddaughters, Safiyah Grace, Gabrielle Walsh, Jacque Mills, Natasha Mills, Cheyenne Mills, Caylee Mills, Emmie Jones, Max Vendoures-West, Chelsey Atwell Grant, Marleigh Atwell and Faith Ruiz; great grandsons, Tanner (Jillian) Taylor, Colton (Megan) Taylor, Jackson Walsh, Apollo Walsh, Drae Mills, Nate Jones, Samuel Budge, Benjamin Budge, Liam Budge, Everett Atwell, Jesus Ruiz, Malachi Ruiz and Drew (Ashley) Hethershaw; great great granddaughters, Mia James, Katrioma Walsh Daily, Magdalena Walsh Daily, Briar Hampton; and great greatgrandsons, Elijah Ruiz, Azariah Walsh, Jarad James, Dale Hampton and Baby (Jillian and Tanner) Taylor due May 15th.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lena and Benjamin Gibbs; brother Rex Gibbs; first husband Marvin Hart; late husband Paul Freeman; son P. Frederick Freeman; daughters Jacqueline Vendoures and Judy Soutter; son-in-law Sophocles Vendoures; grandsons Rodney Hethershaw and Todd Hethershaw: and great grandson, Joseph Atwell.

Graveside service will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association in loving memory of Lenore.

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