Friesen, Abe K. (1910-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Feb 23 p. 8

Birth date: 1910 Apr 12

text of obituary:

ABE K. FRIESEN

Abe K. Friesen, 93, of Hutchinson, Kan., died Feb. 9, 2004, at Schowalter Villa in Hesston. He was born April 12, 1910, to Henry and Kathrina Friesen in Meade. He was the oldest son in a family of nine children.

He entered Civilian Public Service in October 1942. He was first stationed in Hill City, S.D., and later was transferred to Lincoln, Neb. It was there he met John Wiebe, who introduced him to his sister, Dorothy, whom he married on Aug. 22, 1945, in Beatrice, Neb. While in CPS he worked in the parts department and in the office.

He successfully ran Friesen Trucking, which he began, for nearly 30 years. He was proud to report that his company “traveled a million miles without an accident.” He retired from the trucking business in 1982.

After retirement, he was instrumental in starting several service programs. He managed the Etcetera store in Hutchinson. He helped start the Daycare Center, and he helped organize the voluntary service units.

He and Dorothy were longtime members of First Mennonite Church in Hutchinson.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; four daughters, Judy Williams and her husband, Tim, Karen Franz and her husband, Rod, Arlene Schmidt and her husband, Wilbur, and Jane Friesen and her husband, Kelvin; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.