Friesen, Elmer (1920-1967)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 Nov 30 p. 5

Birth date: 1920 Jun 4

text of obituary:

. . .

• Elmer Friesen, 47, farmer of the Goessel community, died Nov. 22 at the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel after an extended illness. The funeral was conducted Saturday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl Church, with Rev. Aaron Epp officiating. Mr. Friesen leaves his widow, the former Mary Alice Barbour, and a son Richard of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan B. Friesen of rural Newton; one brother and three sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Jan 11 p. 8

text of obituary:

ELMER FRIESEN

Elmer Friesen of Route 2, Newton, Kan., son of Daniel B. and Susie Goertzen Friesen was born June 4, 1920 in Goessel, Kan.

He was baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ on June 5, 1908 by Elder Peter H. Unruh and received into the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church where he remained a faithful member. He graduated from the Goessel Rural High School in 1938.

On April 26, 1953, he was married to Mary Alice Barbour in the First Christian Church in Newton. Rev. Norvil Underwood officiated. They moved onto a farm one mile east of Goessel where they took up farming.

At the age of 12 he became aware of his diabetic condition. This hampered his activity some but did not deter him from the usual pursuits of life. In 1959 he became blind, but his persistence kept him going. To his farming operations he added custom combining. He never complained about his lot. He enjoyed a great interest in the church and community and was a charter member of the Goessel Lions Club.

In the last months he realized his frail condition and needed considerable time of hospitalization. He was released from the hospital the first day of October and, being fully aware of his condition, they held a public farm sale on Nov. 11. Two days later he entered the Bethesda Hospital and there passed on to his eternal home Nov. 22, 1967, having reached the age of 47 years.

Those remaining to cherish the memory of his life are his wife, Mary Alice; one son, Richard, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Friesen, Route 2, Newton; one brother, Randolf at home; three sisters, Linda and husband T. J. Deasy of Spokane, Wash., Martha and husband Alvin Goerzen, Route 2, Newton, Wilma and husband Nick Martens of Inman; his mother-in-law, Mrs. O. E. Barbour, Newton; uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

The Mennonite obituary: 1968 Jan 2 p. 11