Friesen, Cornelius B. (1881-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Dec 29 p. 8

Birth date: 1881 Apr 15

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS B. FRIESEN

Cornelius B. Friesen was born April 15, 1881 to Bernhard and Sarah Friesen at Henderson, Neb. and entered glory Dec. 9, 1960, having attained the advanced age of 79 years, seven months and 24 days. When nine years old, he came to Oregon with his parents and family where he maintained residence until his homegoing.

He was converted to Christ as a young man, was baptized upon the confession of his faith in the Saviour on Dec. 25, 1902 and entered the fellowship of the Zion Mennonite Congregation at Polk Station, where he worshipped until he became one of the early members of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren group of Polk County. In those early years he was active in various phases of Christian service.

On May 30, 1905 he was united in Christian matrimony to Susanna Enns, and they enjoyed Christian fellowship and marriage for over 55 years. God blessed them with a family of five children: Abe, Sarah Doerksen, Henry, Ben and John. The former two now reside in Salem, two in Dallas, and the latter in Bakersfield, Calif. Mother, all the children and four daughters-in-law survive, as do also the 13 grandchildren and three great grandchildren; his brother Henry of Beaverton; and two sisters, Mrs. Katherine Rempel of Dallas, and Sarah, Mrs. D. G. Rempel of Dallas. Two brothers, Pete, and Ben, formerly of Monmouth, Ore., are deceased.

He lived a quiet, peaceable but faithful Christian life. He held and practiced high moral and spiritual standards, and demonstrated many noble virtues. We will continue to remember his exemplary life as a worthy precedent to follow.

His physical health had declined for the last eight years. During this time, especially as he neared his critical illness, he often expressed his preparedness and desire to be ”present with the Lord.” Our comfort and hope consist in the promises of God, the resurrection and eternal life. We “. . . sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” We are fully confident that he now enjoys the presence of the Lord in the fullest sense of Psalm 16:11: “Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” — The Family.