Friesen, Emil W. (1901-1986)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1986 Aug 21 p. 11

Birth date: 1901 Apr 19

text of obituary:

EMIL W. FRIESEN

Emil Friesen, son of Jacob J. and Katharina Janzen Friesen, was born on April 19, 1901, at a farm near Henderson, Neb., where he grew to manhood. In later life, he made this his home, living there until his death on Aug. 5, 1986.

He received his formal education in the Henderson Public Schools and the Bethesda Fort Bildungs Schule, where his father was his first teacher.

His entire life was devoted to the field of education. He graduated from Bethel College in 1928 and received his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska. His first teaching experience was in the school which his father had begun his teaching career in the late 1800s. He taught in the public schools of Nebraska for 16 years, as well as in Alabama and Montana. He was Merrick County superintendent of schools for 12 years.

During his retirement he translated many records from German to English for the Northern District Conference and for individuals in the community.

He was baptized by H. H. Epp on June 4, 1922, and became a member of Bethesda Mennonite Church, where he remained an active member until his death.

He was married to Huldah Myers Weiss on March 30, 1972, in West Swamp Mennonite Church, Quakertown, Pa. They established their home in the house he had built on the home place. This fulfilled the third of his vows he had made a number of years ago: to visit among the Mennonites in South America, to build a house and to get married. He often expressed that his happiest years were those he and his wife spent together.

He leaves his wife, Huldah; a sister, Maria of Bluffton, Ohio; a brother, Orlando, and wife Mabel of Lakewood, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Thelma Friesen of Wichita, Kan.; a stepson, Bill Weiss, and wife Loretta; and two step-grandchildren.