Friesen, George T. (1897-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Dec 27 p. 6

Birth date: 1897

text of obituary:

. . .

— George T. Friesen, 54, passed away at the Bethel Deaconess hospital at 12:20 a. m. on Christmas day after a long period of ill health. Funeral services are to be held Friday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at the First Mennonite church of which he was a member. Members of the immediate family surviving him are his wife of the family home on W. fifth street, and three children. Mrs. Virgil Gibson of Tulsa, Okla., George Friesen of Great Bend, and LaVerna of the home.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Jan 3 p. 9

text of obituary:

GEORGE T. FRIESEN

George T. Friesen, son of P. D. and Elizabeth (Toevs) Friesen was born in Harvey county near Buhler, Kansas on November 13, 1897. He died in Newton, Kansas on December 25, 1951, aged 54 years, one month and 12 days.

He grew up and received his elementary school education in the vicinity of Buhler and Inman. He was baptized by the Elder G. M. Pankratz and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren church at Inman, Kansas.

On December 13, 1920, he was married to Marie Willems by Rev. Abram Albrecht at the Inman Mennonite church. For 31 years and 12 days they shared life’s joys and sorrows together. Four children were born to this union, Wilbur John the first-born, who died in infancy, and Erma, George and LaVerna.

In 1922 they moved to Thomas county in western Kansas. Here he served as Sunday School superintendent and teacher.

Due to ill health, partly due to the dust storms, his health was impaired and upon the doctors advice they left western Kansas and moved to Newton in 1937, where they became members of the First Mennonite church and he remained a member until m time of his death.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife; the following 4 children and their families, Erma and her husband Virgil Gipson, Tulsa, Okla., George and his wife Jean, Great Bend, Kansas and LaVerna at home; two grandchildren, Ronald Scott Gipson and Douglas Craig Gipson; his father Peter D. Friesen, Colby, Kansas; five brothers and two sisters, Marie, Mrs. Eric Claassen of Syracuse, Kans., Lena Friesen Oakley, Kans., Martin and Herbert of Hillsboro, Kans., Abram and Samuel of Colby, Kans., Theodore of Oakley, Kansas, one adopted brother, Herman Friesen, Hooker, Okla. and a large number of relatives and friends.

Bro. Friesen had been in poor health for a number of years but did such work as he was able to do, and his death came unexpected to the family. In 1945 Bro. and Sister Friesen commemorated their silver wedding anniversary.

Funeral services were held Friday, December 28, 1951. A brief service was held for the immediate relatives at the Moody's funeral Chapel at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. J. E. Entz officiating, followed by services at the Mennonite church at 2 p. m. with Rev. D. J. Unruh and Rev. A. J. Dyck taking part in this service. At the service at the funeral chapel, Mrs. D. J. Unruh sang “The City Four-Square," accompanied on the Hammond organ by Mrs. Lawrence Jantz. At church services a male quartet composed of Irvin Goertzen, Willard Entz, Herman Regier and Edwin Regier sang, "Going down the Valley," "Asleep in Jesus and "Beyond the Sunset.” For the processional and recessional Mildred Frey was at the church organ.

Casket-bearers were Wm. T. Schierling, Geo. T. Schierling, Harry F. Siemens, A. F. Toews and J. S. Friesen. Interment was made in the family lot in Greenwood Cemetery by Rex M. Moody of the Moody’s Funeral Home.

The Mennonite obituary: 1952 Jan 15 p. 47