Friesen, J. R. (1882-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Jul 22 p. 9

Birth date: 1882 Mar 2

text of obituary:

J. R. FRIESEN

Our beloved husband and father, J. R. Friesen, was born in Russia March 2, 1882. He came to this country at the age of two and one-half years. He spent his youth at Buhler, Kansas, where he also met and married Miss Mary Patzkowsky. This union was blessed with five sons and five daughters, one daughter preceding him in death.

They spent their early married years at Buhler. Here they also sought and found Christ as their personal Saviour and joined the Mennonite Brethren church in 1907.

In 1918 they moved to Lake Charles, La., where he was engaged in farming. After 12 years they moved to Premont, Texas, where they built their home and planted a citrus grove. Here many battles were fought and victories won until his companion passed away after a lingering illness on June 28, 1938.

After being a widower for nine years he married Mrs. Katie Jansen on Nov. 20, 1947, with whom he lived nearly seven years.

He had been failing in health for several months and was stricken with a heart attack on June 5, 5:45 p.m. while overseeing cleaning work at the M. B. church.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Katie Friesen, Premont; five sons, F. P., Lake Charles, La.; Ed., San Diego, Calif., H. P., John P., and Elmer D., all of Premont; four daughters, Mrs. Malinda Wiens, Hanford, Cal., Mrs. Anna Flaming, Fresno, Cal., Mrs. Bertha Weigel, Sullivan City, Texas and Mrs. Alice Lee, Premont; 18 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two half-brothers, J. R. Bergen, Shafter, Cal., Ben Bergen, Hutchinson, Kans. and host of friends.

We sorrow not at the departure of our husband and father, but we rejoice that he is now with his Saviour, whom he loved and served to the end. — The Bereaved Family.