Dawn (Freeman) Gillberg

Dawn (Freeman) Gillberg, of Topsfield, MA. and Naples, FL., passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, June 18, 2022.  She was 73.

Dawn was born in Champaign, IL on June 24, 1948. She graduated from Wilbur Wright HS in Dayton, OH and later attended Bowling Green State University, OH where she met, and married 2LT. Eric Gillberg, USAF.

Eric, Dawn and their daughter Amber experienced many stateside assignments throughout Eric’s career. (Alabama, Ohio, California, Virginia, Texas and Maryland). They also spent three years at John Hay Air Station in the Philippines where Dawn chaired the Base Beautification Committee. Prior to that, Dawn was a Credit Union Loan Officer at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH and Langley AFB, VA.

Following Eric’s retirement from the service, the family moved to Massachusetts where Dawn was a highly regarded Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker in Topsfield for 20 years. Her success stemmed from her practice to always put her clients’ interests first – it was just the type of person she was.

She enjoyed traveling and loved her family trips to Alaska, the Virgin Islands, Scandinavia, England, Italy and the Hawaiian Islands. Dawn was a lover of all animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. She cared deeply for every pet she ever had. “Show me a person who is kind to animals, and I’ll show you a quality individual.”

She leaves behind her husband of 54 years, Eric, daughter Amber Orton and son-in-law Doug Orton of Melrose, MA, grandchildren, Jesse, Colby and Nathan, and brothers Craig Freeman of Pembroke Pines, FL and Blake Freeman of Nashville, TN.

Relatives and friends will gather in honor of Dawn’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Friday, June 24 from 4-7pm. A memorial service will be held at Robinson’s on Saturday, June 25 at 11am, followed by a luncheon reception.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Folds of Honor (Folds of Honor Foundation, Department 1‌3, Tulsa, O‌K 74‌182), Wounded Warriors Project (Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516) or Tunnels to Towers (Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306).