Dr. Maris Freiman, of Hayward, passed away February 14, 2024, at Tamarack Health Medical Center in Hayward, following a lengthy battle with esophageal and other kinds of cancer.   He was born September 13, 1939, in Riga, Latvia, the son of Edvins and Lily Freimanis.  At the onset of World War 2, he and his mother were able to escape the terror of the Russians by escaping to Germany.  While there, his mother studied veterinary science while Maris attended school in Giesendorf.   In 1949, with the help of Lutheran Social Services and sponsors in the United States, they were able to emigrate to America where he always boasted that he spent his tenth birthday crossing the English Channel and was a legal immigrant to their new home.  In 1951, they relocated to Evanston, Illinois, where his mother became the first licensed female veterinarian in Illinois.  He graduated from Evanston High School, Loyola University and the Loyola University School of Dentistry.  He married Rita Smelte in 1961 and then was commissioned a Captain in the United States Army.  Always proud of his service, he frequently was quoted as saying how proud he was to have come to America from a foreign country and then was able to serve in the United States military as a way of returning the blessing of the freedom he was able to enjoy.  He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Hayward, Acacia-Itasca Masonic Lodge 329 of Superior and Superior Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.  He loved fishing and golfing and was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs and would cheer for the Milwaukee Brewers if they weren't playing the Cubs.

He was predeceased by his parents and his first wife, Rita.  He is survived by his wife, the former Joanne Salveson of Hayward; three sons:  Michael (Johnna Mae) of Brandon, MS; Mark (Peggy) of Harvard, Il; and Peter (Lorie) of Flowood, MS; three grandchildren, Erik, Anna and Abby; three stepdaughters:  Jamie (Tom) Carlson of South Range; Jeanne Salveson and Julie (William) Conner, both of Superior; seven step-grandchildren and seven step-greatgrandchildren.

Services will be held on Saturday, February 24, at Downs Funeral Home, corner of Ogden Avenue and North 19th Street in Superior.  Visitation at 10 AM with services at 11 AM, Reverend Darrell Kyle officiating.  The burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors following the services.

The family wishes to extend grateful thanks to the nursing staff at Tamarack Health and to Dr. Daniel Nikcevich of Essentia Health for the care which they provided over the past three years.