Fretz, John Lewis (1919-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Sep 18 p. 12

Birth date: 1919 Oct 15

text of obituary:

JOHN LEWIS FRETZ

John Lewis Fretz, 86, of Salem, Ore., died Aug. 9, 2006. He was born Oct. 15, 1919, to Joseph and Martha (Reesor) Fretz in Selkirk, Ont.

He graduated from high school in Baden, Ont. His family then moved to Kitchener, Ont., where he worked briefly before being drafted.

He served as a conscientious objector during World War II. He spent nearly four years in alternative service in British Columbia Forest Service camps at Langford and Lake Cowichan doing firefighting and reforestation. He also served as editor of a monthly newspaper, the Beacon, which was circulated to about 2,500 forest camp workers across Canada.

After this, he volunteered with Mennonite Central Committee for two years in relief and rehabilitation work in France. While in France he met and married Beulah Roth of Oregon, who was working for MCC as a nurse.

After this assignment they returned to the United States, where he attended Hesston (Kan.) College and Goshen (Ind.) College. Over the next 30 years, he worked primarily in retail sales in Denver, Colo., and then in Salem.

He maintained a strong interest and dedication to the Mennonite church and its work worldwide. He was an active member at Salem Mennonite Church for more than 40 years. He served Pacific Coast Mennonite Conference as editor of the Missionary Evangel newsletter for six years during the 1970s. He helped organize the Oregon Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society and was an active volunteer in compiling and maintaining the OMHGS archives.

He enjoyed working in his shop at home, spending time with his family and taking trips to the Oregon coast. He enjoyed socializing and was always quick to welcome strangers who visited church.

Survivors include his wife, Beulah; five children, John Jr. of Oceanview, Hawaii, Joseph of Denver, Colo., Roderick of Salem, Iona Ward of Seattle, Wash., and Karma Gingrich of Eagle, Idaho; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Giselle Shenk.

Services were held at Salem Mennonite Church.