Froese, John Arthur (1931-1971)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1971 Dc 03 p. 30

Birth date: 1931 Jul 02

text of obituary:

JOHN ARTHUR FROESE

John Arthur Froese was born to Peter and Elizabeth (Paetkau) Froese in Winkler, Manitoba, on July 2, 1931, During his first two years he was often very ill. When he was ten years old, the family moved to Virgil, Ontario.

On December 20, 1949 his praying father passed away. A week earlier the two-year-old son of his brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Amalie Froese, drowned near Niagara-on-the-Lake. These events caused Art to stop and consider his personal relationship to Jesus Christ. On January 9, 1950 he committed his life to Christ and was baptized and received into the Virgil MB Church on August 13, 1950.

He had a great concern for the salvation of his two older brothers. Within a year, both Jake and Peter yielded their lives to Jesus Christ. To prepare to serve Christ better, he attended the Briercrest Bible Institute from 1952-55. On July 17, 1954 he was married to Hilda Huebner. Their first two years were spent studying the Bible together at Briercrest.

From 1958 to 1961 they worked with the Janz Team in Europe, serving as office manager in Basel, Swizerland and Loerrach, Germany. After three demanding, yet rewarding years, they returned to Virgil where he started work with the Niagara Credit Union.

In 1962 he became critically ill and spent three months in the Bethesda Home in Vineland, Ontario. Since that time his health was always precarious, but with God's help he was able to fulfill his duty as a devoted father and loving husband.

In spite of times of weakness and distress, he never shirked his responsibility in serving Christ at the Niagara Christian Fellowship Chapel. He was one of the pioneer teachers when the church had its start in the Old Town Hall in Niagara-on-the-Lake. His unique contribution was keeping the treasury books in order.

He faced another great crisis in 1968 and spent two months in the hospital. God renewed his strength and spirit. During the last year, he felt remarkably well but suffered a severe relapse on November 26, 1970. Death is presumed to have come by drowning, though his body has still not been recovered.

Even though we cannot understand his early departure, we look up to God who has promised in Romans 8, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." In a Bible which he received from his wife in 1966, these words were written, "By your example of thoughtfulness, consideration and love, I have come to understand better what the Bible means when it says in Ephesians 5:25, "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it."

The Froese family wishes to thank those who shared their loss, for the many tokens of kindness and love. The letters of Concern, cards of hope, gifts of food and money and especially the many prayers, hastened the renewal of strength and courage to keep living for Christ.

John Arthur Froese is survived by his wife, Hilda; four children, Alan, Carolyn, Donna and Brenda, at at home; his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Froese, Tabor Manor, St. Catharines; a sister, Mrs. Henry C. (Anne) Dueck, Milton, Ont.; and two brothers, Peter and Jacob, both of Virgil. A memorial service was conducted at the Niagara Christian Fellowship Chapel, Niagara-on-the Lake November 27 with Rev. Rudy Bartel officiating.