LaVerne "Vern" Herbert Freeman

LaVerne “Vern” Herbert Freeman, age 65, a resident of Amherst, passed away Monday, August, 28, 2023 surrounded by close friends and family. He is now with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he loved and served.

Vern was born May 25, 1958 in Elmira, New York. He attended Elmira Pentecostal Tabernacle (now called Emmanuel Community Church) where he sang in the choir and played trumpet in the orchestra. He attended Elmira Christian Academy for several years. In1976, he graduated from Williamson Jr. & Sr. High School (Tioga, Pennsylvania).

Growing up in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, Vern enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, playing baseball and basketball. He was nicknamed “Slugger” as he often got home runs. He worked on a neighboring family farm and in the winter, tapped maple trees and made maple syrup. Vern excelled at small engine repair and began his first business, Vern’s Small Engine Repair, at the age of 12, fixing push and riding lawn mowers, chain saws, snowmobiles and some car engines. As a teenager, he was mechanically gifted and beautifully restored a rusted out 1956 Willys Jeep pickup truck. After much body work, it became a metallic blue beauty with flared front and rear fenders and a rounded cab. It was four-wheel drive, with a powerful Ford 302 cubic inch, eight-cylinder engine, white mag wheels, white walled tires with the white raised lettering facing out, bucket seats and wood planked.

Vern became a brilliant highly sought after professional locksmith, with exceptional business skills. He was the owner of Vern’s Auto Lock & Key. He also previously owned Vern’s Auto Technical Repair, servicing and repairing vehicles on Elyria Avenue in Lorain, OH. He was a kind, caring man with a charismatic personality who brought goodness, hope and encouragement to those around him. He was an active member at Bethel Cleveland church where he played bass guitar with the worship band. Vern greatly valued spending quality time with his wife, Kathleen and intentionally set aside his evenings and weekends to spend time with her. They enjoyed riding on his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, often visiting old time hardware stores or stopping at farm markets picking out fresh produce, sometimes getting ice cream cones and gazing at sunsets at beaches on Lake Erie. He also enjoyed watching movies, listening to Christian comedy and conservative radio shows and playing his six string bass guitar.

Survivors include: His very loving and devoted wife of four years, Kathleen Rose Freeman (nee: Larkey); His children (all from Ohio): Mark Freeman of Amherst, Jennifer Freeman (Christy Caelynn) of Canton, Julie Moody (Anthony) of Dayton, Katrina Ralston (Grant) of Sheffield Village, Sharon Blanton, and Cheryl Neal (Jesse) - both of Lorain, Ohio.

His grandchildren: Jabin Moody, Kaden Moody, Owen Moody, Aiden Ralston, Lincoln Ralston, Elsie Ralston, Emma Blanton, Ian Neal, and Carter Neal; His mother: Christine Freeman (nee: Updike) of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. His siblings: Roberta Freeman of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, Anita Lockwood (Jim) of Little Falls, New York, Nina Kelley of Pine City, New York, Thomas Freeman (Shona) of Chesterfield, Virginia, Stanley Freeman of Warren, Ohio, Harold Freeman (Dollie) of Quinton, Virginia, Glenn Freeman of Harrisburg Pennsylvania, and Grace Updike (Eric) of Afton, Tennessee. His former spouse: Cheryl (Rarrick) Freeman of Lorain, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard “Dick” Freeman of Lawrenceville, PA.

Friends may call Friday, September 1, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 7:00 p.m. at Bethel Cleveland - Brunswick, 197 N. Carpenter Rd, Brunswick, OH 44212. Pastor Steve Witt will officiate. Rebroadcasting of services will be available at www.hempelfuneralhome.com. Private burial will be held at New Russia Township, Oberlin.

The family appreciates any contributions made to help cover Vern’s final medical bills and funeral/memorial costs.

1.) Contributions to help with funeral/memorial costs may be made via Venmo:
@kathleen-freeman-46

2.) Donations to help cover Medical bills may be made at this link: 

  https://gofund.me/e001f478

Hempel Funeral Home is honored to serve Vern Freeman. For those unable to attend please visit the funeral home's website to share a memory and sign the guest register, www.hempelfuneralhome.com.

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