Friesen, Jacob E. (1925-2002)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Oct 7 p. 8

Birth date: 1925 Nov 20

text of obituary:

JACOB E. FRIESEN

Jacob E. Friesen, 76, of Henderson, Neb., died Aug. 6, 2002. He was born Nov. 20, 1925, to Bernhard D. and Margaretha Epp Friesen.

He was baptized and joined Bethesda Mennonite Church on June 13, 1943, where he remained a faithful member.

On Jan. 23, 1948, he married Elsie Regier.

For the major part of their 54 years of married life they farmed. When his health no longer permitted him to farm, they moved to Henderson, where he was head custodian at Bethesda Mennonite Church for 12 years. He enjoyed working with the church pastors, office staff and other custodial staff.

He resigned his position at Bethesda when he had surgery in 1997. After recuperating from surgery, he did some part-time work and also worked several years at York College, where he enjoyed the fellowship of students and his co-workers.

In December 2001 it was discovered that he had a malignant brain tumor, and he became weaker as time went by. While he was still able to pray audibly, he prayed for his children and grandchildren and for pastors and missionaries.

Survivors include his wife, Elsie; a son, Donovan and his wife, Sherryl, of Freeman, S.D.; a daughter, Diane Harrison and her husband, Mike, of Henderson; a brother, Clarence of Henderson; two sisters, Bertha Penner of Mountain Lake, Minn., and Pauline Friesen of Henderson; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Alvin (in infancy), Adolph and Arlie Friesen.