Friesen, Henry R. (1892-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Feb 4 p. 11

Birth date: 1892 Jan 31

text of obituary:

HENRY R. FRIESEN

The prayers of Henry R. Friesen reflect the life and devotion of him who has now passed from our fellowship to an eternal presence with his Lord.

He was born at Jansen, Neb., on Jan 31, 1892, the first born son of Peter I. and Kathryn Reimer Friesen. His boyhood days were filled with the tasks of the farm and formal learning in the nearby schoolhouse.

In the absence of a Christian influence in childhood, his first real prayer was a plea for salvation, prayed in the anguish of deep conviction. His "new birth" occurred at age 21 in the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church at Jansen. The "peace of God which passeth all understanding" flooded his soul on Thanksgiving Day, 1913. He was baptized by Rev. P. A. Wiebe and received into the church.

In the spring of 1920 father moved to the Garden City, Kan. community to start a new life. Most important was his marriage to Wilhelmina Schmidt on May 20 of that year. Their marriage was begun with earnest faith in God's direction. Six children were born to them between 1922 and 1931. Then came the poverty and heartache of the depression and the destructive dust storms of the 1930's. Father's daily and private prayer life was remarkably illustrated at the depth of the depression when a serious crisis had developed, including lack of food, and the emergency illness of mother. The local Co-op had written a pro-rate check two years earlier, but it had been lost behind a desk until this time of crisis when it became God's specific answer to prayer.

A profound sense of God's direction accompanied the family's decision to come to the Meade, Kan. community. This move was made possible by another specific answer to prayer when the $25 available for a rental exactly matched an unsolicited offer of a good house for $25 a year! This has proven to be a great source of joy and happiness for our parents because their children received the added nurture of the church, Bible school and academy, and the greater Meade community.

Father's central interest was the spiritual life of his children, the church and the community. He served as Sunday school teacher, church board member, public school board member, and church custodian. He was an active and faithful member of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church and maintained prayerful support of missions until his passing.

The torch of faith is now passed to us who remain. Father slipped quietly and peacefully from this life on January 12, 1971, at the ate of 78 years, 11 months and 12 days after several months of poor health.

Mother remembers 50 years of loving marriage in times both good and bad. The children are Ruth and Abe Isaac, Meade; Harry and Verda Friesen, Woodland, Calif.; Alfred and Hilda Friesen, Meade: Benjamin and Joyce Friesen, Lawrence, Kan.; and Walter and Carol Friesen, Wichita, Kan. There are 15 grandchildren.

Preceding father in death were his brothers William Frank and Benjamin; his sisters Mary and Elsie; and one infant son, Reuben. Surviving are brothers John and Edward; sisters Lillian and Florence and one uncle John Reimer, all of Kansas City, Mo.