How many folks have the privilege of living on a road named in their honor?
It was a fitting designation for Robert Freestad, known as the mayor of Lake Ki, on Freestad Road.
After becoming an orphan, Freestad went to live with Al and Hannah Freestad, chicken farmers on the shores of Lake Ki. They later adopted him.
Growing up on the lake, he attended Lakewood Elementary School with Marie Gustavson Olson.
“His parents were very loving, caring people and very involved in the community,” Olson said. “At the time we were all children, there were only about 104 students in the grade school so we all got to know each other well. Bob was always a nice boy, very kind, a quiet sort who was there to help when needed.”
Lakewood was the “Mayberry” of our county, she said, and very social.
“If you needed a hand to accomplish a big task, the neighbors looked in and saw what was needed and came and helped. This was where Bob was raised and lived all of his life and never stopped lending a hand.”
Robert Lee Freestad, 74, died June 11 after a stroke. His sister, Mildred Gartin, said Freestad was born in Everett in 1932, the third of four children and the only son born to Amelia Story Bryan and Lee Bryan. Mr. Bryan died of pneumonia in 1938 and Mrs. Bryan died of a brain tumor in 1940.
The 1950 graduate of Arlington High School served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Boxer and was a life member of a group called the “Boxer Shorts.” He worked for Shell Oil Company and the Snohomish County road department before getting into the freight business. Freestad worked for Oak Harbor Freight lines before working for Garrett Freight Lines, from which he retired in 1988.
He was a life member of Sons of Norway, and a member of Teamsters Local 38, American Legion Post 76 in Arlington and a retired member of the Lake Goodwin Fire Department.
One summer, Sharon Cheever-Christie rented a cabin from the Freestads.
“Being an avid fisherman like Bob, we hit it off from the start,” Cheever-Christie said. “Evenings, after work, I would take my rowboat out on the lake. Bob and I established a friendly rivalry as to who would catch the biggest fish, taunting each other.”
Freestad leaves his sweetheart, best friend and wife of 53 years, Bernice; daughter, Sheryl, and her husband, Larry Jackson; granddaughter, Shelbey; sisters Marion White, Mildred Gartin and Greta Running, and her husband, Morrie; sisters-in-law Jan Haarsager and Patsy Moyer and her husband, Al; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
In the midst of a neighborhood problem, Susan Bjorling called on a stranger for help.
“I literally looked up neighbors on Freestad Road in the reverse directory and thought ‘Hmmm, Freestad,’ Bjorling said. “I bet he’s lived here awhile.”
Freestad organized a community meeting and Bjorling’s problem was addressed.
“He went around the lake and enlisted the help of everyone he knew. And he knew everyone.”
Freestad restored her faith in community, she said.
If you just met Freestad, said Renee Bjerkaker, you would walk away feeling like you had known him forever. If you knew him for a long period of time, you knew his kindness and friendship were genuine, she added.
“He cared about Lake Ki and the people that came to fish every opening day,” Bjerkaker said. “He always had a dock full and would continue to welcome anyone that came to fish. He loved it.”
Freestad also loved crabbing, shrimping, smelting, bowling, gambling, Microsoft stock, cruising, his annual trip to Barkley Sound with his buddies, Seattle sports and firewood.
His passion was cutting wood with his son-in-law. If he didn’t have 30 cords, he got jittery, Larry Jackson said.
Robert Freestad lived his favorite saying: “I’m not here for a long time, but for a good time.”
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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