Friesen, Pete (1901-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Feb 20 p. 6

Birth date: 1901 Jan. 13

text of obituary:

. . .

— Word was received here that Pete Friesen, 57, died Monday at Grace Hospital in Hutchinson after suffering a heart attack while at work. Funeral services were announced for Wednesday afternoon at the Inman Mennonite Church. Survivors include his widow, Anna, one son, three daughters, three sisters and two brothers including Henry Friesen of Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Mar 20 p. 8

PETE FRIESEN

Pete Friesen, son of Dietrich and Agnetha Pauls Friesen, was born near Inman, Kansas on Jan. 13, 1901, and departed this life on Feb. 17, 1958, reaching the age of 57 years, one month and four days. He was the youngest in his family, but also the first one to pass on from this life, with the exception of one sister who died in infancy.

Father grew to young manhood in the Inman neighborhood, receiving his elementary education in the Lake Valley School and later also attending the Hoffnungsau Preparatory School for two years.

On May 20, 1923, he was baptized upon the confession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour by the Rev. Abraham Ratzlaff and received into the membership of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church of which he remained a member until his departure.

He was united in holy matrimony to Anna Pauls on Oct. 28, 1923, with whom he shared life for almost 34 and one-half years. Four children, three daughters and one son, were born to this happy union. He spent most of his life in the Inman community. In 1930 the family moved to a farm near Dalhart, Texas. After living there for about six years and experiencing the hardships of drought and dust of the thirties they resolved to move back to Inman.

Here father opened a blacksmith and welding shop which he operated for some years. Even after becoming employed in Hutchinson, he still retained his shop at his home where he would spend many hours in the evenings. He enjoyed his work as machinist and welder and was always ready to help people as they came to him to have some work done.

After having operated his own shop in Inman for some years, he decided to discontinue his shop on a full time basis and became employed with the Consolidated Rebuilders inc. in Hutchinson where he worked for about eight years as a welder.

Father always had a friendly disposition and was a loving father in the home, always fond of his children and now in later years of his grandchildren.

Father enjoyed good health all his life. However about two weeks ago he had mentioned to his beloved wife that he thought his days were numbered. On Monday morning he left for work as usual but complained of not feeling too well. Shortly after beginning his duties on the job he was stricken with a coronary thrombosis. Emergency aid was given and he was rushed to the hospital, but he passed away at about 9:10 the same morning.

Father leaves to mourn his sudden departure his bereaved widow, Anna; one son, John E. of Kingman, Kansas; three daughters, Ella Mae, Mrs. Waldo F. Enns of Hutchinson, Matilda, Mrs. Clifton Stout of McPherson, and Betty of the home; two sons-in-law, three grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Anna Pauls of the Home for the Aged in Inman; two brothers, Rev. Dietrich Friesen of Inman and Henry Friesen of Newton; three sisters, Mrs. S. P. Ediger, Mrs. M. W. Doerksen and Mrs. H. B. Martens, all of Inman;12 brothers-in-law and ten sisters-in-law and many relatives and friends. His parents and one infant sister preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held Feb. 19 at the Inman Mennonite Church, Rev. Ben Rahn and Rev. A. J. Dyck officiating. Burial was made in the north Inman cemetery.