McCabe Funeral Home

I just received your letter saying that Pastor Freed has passed away. The letter was actually for my mom, Grethe Prip. She is in assisted living and I will make sure she gets it. Pastor Freed was our pastor in Grayslake. He was very close to my brother Soren Prip, who was killed in Viet Nam in April of 1968. Soren had made a commitment to the Lord Jesus, and volunteered at Shepherd of the Lakes, I think he was helping with the youth. I know Pastor Freed was instrumental in Soren's life. I am sorry that I did not get to reach out to him before he passed. My mom and I are all that's left, and we send our condolences to the family. Niels Prip

Pastor Freed was a major influence in my life. May he rest in Peace. My condolences to his family. Lee

We will miss him!

With gratitude for a life well-lived and sadness for your loss and ours, my sympathies to all. Jack welcomed our family to West Bloomfield 10 years ago when my husband became pastor of WBUMC and invited him into the greater community. He has left a wonderful legacy of caring community in West Bloomfield.

I met Jack Freed shortly after I was hired as a Community Social Worker by the West Bloomfield School District. Jack took a keen interest in assisting low-income families in the Keego Harbor/ West Bloomfield area. He quickly became a trusted mentor and friend. For over 25 years Jack collaborated with my office on projects that assisted countless deserving families. As Pastor of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church he encouraged his church members to provide holiday gift giving of food, clothing and toys . It started small with His church providing food baskets during Thanksgiving, but soon expanded to include Christmas and Easter. Jack also facilitated clothing drives with an emphasis on children's clothing. Over the years Holy Spirit Lutheran supplied hundreds of coats,gloves and boots to deserving children. Jack would often show up at my office at Roosevelt School with a carload of quality clothing and would ask what other needs he and his congregation could help with. He was never judgmental about the families in need. Instead he took a personal interest in their lives and stories. I could call him day or night and he was always available for help and guidance. Jack was also instrumental in raising money to provide a week long Summer Camp experience for low income students in the West Bloomfield School District. The program lasted for decades. I always felt honored to be part of Jack's many collaborations. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered for his authenticity and kindness.

I was hired as Director of West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation in October, 1983. Pastor Freed was one of the first people I met upon my arrival in the township. He quickly extended his friendship to me and his support for parks and recreation. He made the community room at Holy Spirit Church available for our Senior Citizen activities (Mature Minglers)for years and was a strong and vocal supporter of the parks and recreation commission and staff as we attempted to acquire land, develop parks and expand programs. He became my mentor, confidant and close friend during my 13 years with parks and recreation and then for another 25 years during my tenure as Director of Community Education with the West Bloomfield School District. I relied on him for advice, guidance and emotional support amid the sometimes challenging political climate in the township. Pastor Jack Freed had an incredible impact on the West Bloomfield community and on me. I loved and admired him and will be forever grateful for his guidance and friendship.

From the day I joined the Optimist Club in 1988 until my retirement in 2008, Jack was always warm and welcoming. I still have the card he gave me when I retired with his wonderful words. Thanks for being a friend. You will be missed by many.

Jack's dedication to the Christmas-Adopt-A-Family through The Optimist Club always amazed me. He worked tirelessly and never missed a beat. You're one to emulate, Jack. So glad I got to know you.

I'll Miss your Winning Words, I'll miss our exchange of Auto emails, I'll miss having breakfast with you, But more of all I'll miss our friendship.

My sympathy goes out to Jack's family. I met Jack when we moved to West Bloomfield in 1974 and joined his church. We became good fiends over all those years, which took his passing to end. Jack had a great and positive effect on my life. We enjoyed each other. I'll miss him very much and wish my sincere condolences to Joan and his other family members.

Pastor Freed married us 25 years ago. Some of the words from his homily that day we still refer to daily, and even had them painted on to a wall in our home. You will be missed, Pastor Freed.

I am one of Joan's quilting friends. I am so sorry to hear about Jack's passing. We enjoyed his visits to our quilting group when he came along with Joan. I am one of his winning word followers. He will be missed. My condolences to the family.

Jack, I only knew you a short time. It was such an honor for me.

While we didn't see Jack often, we got to know him well via Winning Words. He will be remembered for the many lives he touched and made better. We take solace in the face he is reunited with his wife Mary. Thank you, Jack for who you were and what you did on this earth.

Sorry to have known you and your spiritual values only for a short time.

David and Family I will treasure my time with your father. He was a kind and compassionate man and knew the needs of his West Bloomfield community better than most. I will miss his daily Winning Words but most of all I'll miss him. You and your family are in our prayers.

We were all blessed to have Pastor Freed in our lives.He will be missed.

We will miss and rememberJack as a close friend our pastor and as Claudias big "boss" when she was Jacks Secretary back when they were contracting for the stained glass windows of Holy Spirit Church!

My sympathies to your family. In the short time that we were blessed with his presence at Resurrection Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, MN, we knew he was a sincere man of God. He and Joan took time from their summer schedules the past two years to be a part of our annual mission trip at People's Church in Bemidji, MN. He truly was a man of service.

My sincerest condolences. Remembering Pastor Freed, a man of love, kindness, wisdom, and forgiveness. I am truly blessed to have had a relationship with him. He will live on, in my heart forever. Rest in Peace

Pastor Freed was an amazing person and lived a life that touched so many! He was our pastor all my childhood at Holy Spirit, family friend and mentor. I have very fond memories of confirmation, retreats to Cedar Point and from following him on Jack's winning words. God is lucky to have him in heaven!

Winning Words were so helpful to me so many times. I will miss Pastor Freed and am grateful to have known him.

Jack was an amazing person in so many ways. I will always be grateful for our deep friendship, his wise counsel, and his ongoing support of me personally and of my vocation as a parish pastor.

Remembering Pastor Freed with love,appreciation and respect

Thank you Jack for your friendship, always kind and thoughtful words and for daily inspiration from your daily blog. I learned from you.

Dave, Beth, and Jeanne, I'm so sorry for your loss. Your Dad as a very special person who did so much for the community. I loved reading his Winning Words and on a few occasions, I read exactly what I needed to hear that day! It gave me peace!

Sorry for your loss. Jack was a great man and a wonderful person. May he Rest In Peace