Friesen, Paul C. (1930-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 Dec 10 p. 2

Birth date: 1930

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Jan 30 p. 7

text of obituary:

Missionary to Peru dies

By MBMS Internastional

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Paul C. Friesen, 75, of North Newton, Kan., a career Mennonite Brethren missionary to Peru, died Dec. 6 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident the previous day in Hattiesburg.

For parts of five decades, Friesen and his wife, Maurine, served among the Ashaninca people of the Peruvian jungles.

"His 45 years of ministry in Peru have born eternal fruit," said Randy Friesen, director of MBMS International, the MB mission agency.

A native of Buhler, Kan., and a graduate Bethel College in North Newton, Friesen pastored and taught in Kansas and then served in a migrant ministry with Mennonite Central Committee in California and an extension work of the Zion Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church.

The Friesens arrived in Peru in 1960. The following year, the KMB conference merged with the MB conference, and the Friesens served with MBMSI.

The church among the Ashaninca spread to many villages. During the late 1980s and early '90s they experienced persecution from communist guerillas. many teachers and pastors were killed because they would not give up their Christian faith.

Friesen worked on many translation and writing projects for the Ashaninca church.

The Friesens established a home in North Newton in 2000 and made yearly visits to Peru to continue the translation work. They had planned to return to Peru at the end of January.

In addition to his wife, Friesen is survived by five children, Susette, mark, John, Paul Jr. and Bruce; 11 grandchildren and a great-grandson.