Friesen, Henry P. (1886-1944)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Feb 24 p. 3

Birth date: 1886 Apr 14

text of obituary:

H. P. FRIESEN

H. P. Friesen, a life long resident of the community at Henderson, Nebr., passed away at the York, Nebr., hospital, Monday evening Feb. 14, at about 9:30 o'clock.

Mr. Friesen was born April 14, 1886, in York county, Nebr., where he grew up to manhood and received his education. his father, Rev. Peter J. Friesen, was the first, elder of the Bethesda church. Some of the Review readers may still remember him.

Mr. Friesen and his wife went to California the first part of the winter to visit their children. They returned home Wednesday, February 9, and the next day he became ill of heart trouble.

Surviving are his wife, three sons, three daughters, six brothers and three sisters.

The funeral services were held Friday afternoon, Feb. 18, at the Bethesda church and burial made in the Bethesda cemetery northeast of Henderson.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Mar 2 p. 3

text of obituary:

HENRY P. FRIESEN

Henry P. Friesen, son of Rev. Peter J. Friesen and Eva Abrahams, was born in York county, Nebraska, on April 14, 1886. On June 8, 1908, he was baptized upon the confession of his faith by his father and accepted as member into the Bethesda Mennonite church.

On January 9, 1910, he was united in marriage to Mary Janzen of Enid, Oklahoma. This union was blessed with three sons and three daughters. During the last six years he was a member of the board of education of district No. 95 of Henderson.

All of his lifetime he was engaged in farming. In all of his dealings with neighbors and fellowmen he was considerate. He always enjoyed good health until September 1938, when he was afflicted with a malady diagnosed as brain fever. Due to the effects of this disease he never regained his strength. The following year, in 1939, had the misfortune of upsetting with his car, which also helped to make his situation worse. After this he was not able to do his farm work without help.

In October, 1941, an attack of asthma overtook him. This made it very disagreeable for him to attend to his daily affairs. This ailment kept getting worse as time went on. Two years ago he and his wife decided to go to California, oping to find relief from his malady. The trip there seemed to relieve his condition considerably. In December, 1943, they again decided to go to California because his health was declining rapidly, hoping that the trip again would bring the desired relief. This trip, however, did not prove as successful as the first one. Yet he did enjoy his stay in California with his sons and son-in-law, who reside in the Los Angeles neighborhood.

He and his wife returned on February 9, but he was in a weaker state than when he left. The day after his return he had to go to bed an on February 14 he was taken to the hospital in York, Nebr., in an ambulance. Upon thorough examination the doctor found him a very sick man, with his lungs filling up rapidly. His breathing became more and more impaired as the time went on. All medical care seemed to fail. At 9 P.M. he passed away due to heart attack.

He leaves to mourn his early departure his wife, Mary; Fred of Henderson; Walter F. of Los Angeles, California, Sgt. Ruben F. in camp near Los Angeles, California, Sophia, Mrs. Henry Bergen of Henderson; Lucie, Mrs. Bob Beier of Huntington Park, Calif., and Nellie at home; two sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. Six brothers, John D., Peter D., Rev. Abraham W. William P. of Henderson; David P. of Hampton, Nebr., and Jacob H. of Oakland, Calif.; three sisters, Katie and Anna, Mrs. P. J. Ratzlaff of Henderson, Eva, Mrs. G. K. Friesen of Hampton, Nebr., also survive. One sister, Sarah, Mrs. G. J. Kroeker, preceded him in death in 1938. His parents also preceded him in death, also one brother and sister died in early infancy.

He lived in holy matrimony 34 years. Attained an age of 57 years and 10 months.

Funeral services were conducted on February 18, at the Bethesda church in charge of Rev. H. D. Epp and Rev. H. B. Kliewer, superintendent of the High school.