Gary W. Freeman, 68, Columbus, passed away at 9:32 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility in Columbus, after a courageous year and a half battle with leukemia.Mr. Freeman never knew a stranger and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Mr. Freeman was a lifelong educator who earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Olivet University and a master's degree in mathematics from Indiana University. He taught at Momence High School in Momence, Ill., from 1965 to 1971. From 1971 to his retirement in 2002, he was a mathematics teacher at Columbus North High School. He also taught evening Cummins apprentice classes for 18 years. Teaching was his passion. He said that not once in all his 37 years of teaching did he dread going to school. He was a member of the Indiana State Retired Teachers Association and the local Bartholomew County Retired Teachers Association. He enjoyed the outdoors, and for each summer for 30 years, he led groups of family and friends on canoe wilderness trips to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. He also enjoyed gardening and traveling. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.Born Sept. 14, 1943, in Brainerd, Minn., he was the son of Nestor T. and Marjorie Hauser Freeman, both of whom preceded him in death. He married Faith Roberts on June 11, 1966, in Seymour, and she survives.In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Aimee (Randy) Morris; three grandchildren, Carson, Camryn and Corbin Morris, all of Columbus; one brother, Roger (Mary) Freeman, Coon Rapids, Minn.; one sister, Jan (Gary) Sterner, Nisswa, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by a brother.A memorial service celebrating the life of Mr. Freeman will be conducted by Dr. Bruce Petersen at 1 p.m. Saturday at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street in Columbus.Family and friends may call from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday and from noon until time of service Saturday at the funeral home.In keeping with Mr. Freeman's wishes, cremation is planned. Private inurnment will be at White's Chapel in Spraytown.Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Indiana Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Hospice of South Central Indiana.Online condolences may be sent to the Freeman family and a video tribute may be viewed at www.barkesweaverglick.com.