Vonda Jule Freeman

Vonda Jule Freeman, 94, of Brandon, Florida died at Brandon Regional Hospital on February 17 after suffering a pulmonary embolism and other critical medical issues. In her final hours she was comforted by her long-time friend and companion, 97-year-old Jeannette (Jean) Green, and three other close friends who have attended both ladies as caregivers. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and two sisters.

Vonda grew up in the town of Marion, Iowa. She was the seventh of eight children born to Ethmer and Laura (Stobaugh) Freeman. Her six siblings (the first child did not survive infancy) all married and Vonda gradually became the aunt of eighteen nieces and nephews.

In August, 1952 Vonda joined the U.S. Navy and went to Bainbridge, Maryland to begin her orientation training (Boot Camp). Her only real disappointment at that time was learning that women musicians were not accepted in the U.S. Navy Band. Having mastered the art of playing the Sousaphone as a high school student and being a member of the Marion High School marching band, her dream was to pursue her passion for music in the Navy. Instead, she was channeled into the job field of Storekeeper which involved working within the many facets of the Navy's supply system. Over the next ten years, she served in Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and Jacksonville, Florida.

In 1962 she decided to leave the Navy and found rewarding employment in the fields of accounting and court reporting, achieving credentials in the latter to become a proficient instructor in a school which trained court reporters. But her association with the Navy was not over. In 1974 she decided to resume her status as a Navy Wave and joined the U.S. Naval Reserve. Over the next sixteen years she participated in the Active Reserve Program fulfilling requirements for advancement and, eventually, retirement from the Naval Reserve. Her total service, including the first ten years in the regular Navy plus sixteen years as an active Reservist, qualified her for retirement with full benefits.

Along the way she teamed up with her friend Jean with whom she had served in Jacksonville and they resided in such places as Omaha, Nebraska; Long Beach, California; and in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. while Jean completed her eligibility for retirement from the Navy. Thereafter, they relocated to Newark, Delaware for twelve years before moving to Florida in 1999.

Vonda was well known for her love of animals. She could never ignore an animal in distress and she rescued a number of dogs and cats finding new forever homes for them. In recognition of her compassion, it is suggested that donations be made in her memory to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 424 E. 92nd Street, New York, New York 10128, and/or your local Humane Society.

A funeral mass with military honors was celebrated at St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Riverview, Florida on March 7. Vonda had requested to be buried in Cedar Rapids beside her parents in the family plot. There will be a memorial service and interment at Cedar Memorial on Saturday, March 21st at 11:00 AM.