Robert Stuart Freeburg

Robert Stuart Freeburg went to sleep in his bed on Dec. 27, 2009 and woke up in heaven with his precious Savior. Robert was born on May 10, 1929 at his grandmother's house near Seneca, NM. He grew up on the family homestead with his parents, Justin D. and Grace L. Freeburg. He had an older brother, Garvis, who died of Scarlet Fever as a young child, an older sister, Rowena, and a younger sister, Nettie Ruth During his High School years, Bob lived in Clayton during the week where he attended Clayton High School. He received good marks, was on the school football team, and was first chair violin in the school orchestra. After high school he went to Albuquerque, NM to attend the University of New Mexico. It was there that he met a pretty girl, Lina Jane Wolfe, at the Baptist Student Union. When she transferred the next year to Colorado State University, at Fort Collins, he did the same. They were married on Dec. 28, 1948 in her hometown of Big Spring, TX. He received his BA in Agricultural Engineering in 1952, and soon enlisted in the US Navy, and after basic training, was stationed at Bainbridge, Maryland, where Lina joined him. Their first child, Marlan Stephen, was born at Bainbridge in 1953. Having the qualifications as a surveyor, the Navy put Bob to work on the Naval base, which kept him from being sent to Korea during that war. Robert was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1954, and he moved his family to Clayton for a short time. From there, they moved to Montrose, CO where he ran a cattle ranch for his father-in-law. Their daughter, Lydia Janeen was born at Montrose in 1955. In 1959, Bob attained a teaching position in his field at New Mexico State University, and the family moved to Las Cruces. In 1957 he earned a Masters Degree from NMSU, and added research to his responsibilities. The family later moved again to Fort Collins for two years, where he was awarded a PhD from Colorado State in 1970, and then he returned to his position at NMSU. He was a Professional Engineer and Surveyor, and a licensed Surveyor in both New Mexico and Colorado. He was member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing, and the NMSU chapter of Chi Epsilon. Dr. Freeburg was a well liked by his students, and his family temporarily "adopted" foreign students each year to ease their transition to a new culture. His research projects took him into many locations, and he specialized in the area of agricultural water use. Bob spent a summer in Paraguay assisting with their local improvements in water use. He retired from his position at NMSU in 1987, after 18 years of service to students. Bob and Lina welcomed to the family son-in-law, John Anderson in 1974, and daughter-in-law, Carol Jean Wurster in 1985. They were both thrilled and blessed by grandchildren Brian and Michelle Anderson, and Nicholas (Nick) and Anthony (AJ) Freeburg. Lina, passed away in June of 1989, after 9 years of battling cancer, and not long after Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Bob met Rose Marie Estrada at a church function, and they were married in August 1990. His blended family included Rose's son, Gregg and wife Tambi, and their children Elijah, Avalon and Joshua, also son Steve and wife Isolde, and her children Jacqueline and Christopher. After almost 17 years of marriage, Rose passed away in July of 2007. During his time in Las Cruces, Bob was an active member of University Presbyterian Church and later a founding member of First Evangelical Free Church. He also attended Mountain View Baptist Church with the Estrada family. He was a member of Gideons International, handing out Bibles and speaking in Churches. He made several mission trips after his retirement, including a three month stint in Ethiopia helping to develop fresh water supplies in rural area. He was a man who lived out his faith, serving others while serving his Lord. Bob welcomed the marriage of his grandson, Brian, to Shannon Stansell and of his granddaughter, Michelle, to Ben Tensay. He cherished time spent with his great-grandchildren, Carson, Morgan, and Jaiden Anderson, and Lexina Tensay, and the latest addition, step great-granddaughter, Kailani Estrada. Robert is survived by his sister, Nettie Ruth Bunch and her husband, M.D. of Lafayette, CO., and his brother-in-law, Spencer Wolfe, and his wife Janet of Big Spring, TX., as well as his brother-in-law, Lloyd Rinker, of Amarillo, TX. Also surviving are his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, nieces & nephews, and his blended family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lina Jane, his wife, Rose Marie, his parents, Justin and Grace Freeburg, his sister, Rowena Rinker, and his brother, Garvis Freeburg. For the last seven years, Bob was greatly helped through the difficulties of living with Parkinson's by his wonderful care giver, Julie Reveles-Rodriguez, who stayed with him through his final hours. They spent many hours studying the Scriptures together, working crossword puzzles, and playing dominos. Julie's care supplemented that given by the caring staff at The Aristocrat and Mesilla Valley Hospice. A viewing will take place Thursday, December 31st , from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman. The Funeral will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, January 1st at University Presbyterian Church, 2010 Wisconsin Ave. Pall Bearers are his son, Marlan, his grandsons, Brian Anderson, Elijah Estrada, Nick and AJ Freeburg, and Ben Tensay. Honorary Pall Bearers are great-grandsons Carson Anderson and Joshua Estrada. Burial will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens at 10:00 AM, Monday, January 4th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the building fund at either University Presbyterian Church or First Evangelical Free Church. PDF Printable Version