Friesen, Jacob J. (1893-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Aug 2 p. 8

Birth date: 1893 Aug 23

text of obituary:

JACOB J. FRIESEN

Jacob J. Friesen was born at Hillsboro, Kan., son of Jacob Henry and Marie (Bartel) Friesen, on Aug. 23, 1893. On Nov. 3, 1912 he was baptized upon his confession of faith that Jesus Christ was his Saviour by Rev. John Flaming and received into the Bergthal Mennonite Church near Corn, Okla.

On April 24, 1916 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Dick. They were privileged to share life's joys and sorrows together for 46 years. To this happy union were born three children, Reola, Harry, and Wesley.

We made our home on farms near Corn and Clinton, Okla. until 1950 when we moved to Clinton, where we were associate members of the Clinton First Mennonite Church while father worked in a hardware store for five years.

In 1955 we moved to Fresno, Calif. were [sic] he became a saw operator in a box factory, and joined the Mennonite Community Church on March 25, 1956. He immediately became actively engaged in the work of the church and was elected as deacon on Dec. 9, 1956. He served in this capacity until his death. He loved the Lord and was always concerned about the spiritual welfare of the church.

He suffered ill health occasionally and had to have surgery four times in the last six years. On Sunday morning, July 8, 1962 he suddenly suffered much pain and was taken to the Fresno Community Hospital with a kidney ailment. On the following Friday he had surgery. He seemed to be recovering when just four days after the operation he suddenly had a heart attack, which took his life without warning. He reached the age of 68 years, 10 months and 24 days.

We are happy that we may look forward to meeting him some day and until then we want to try to serve our Lord and Saviour as best we know how.

He leaves to mourn his death, his wife, Elizabeth; one daughter, Mrs. Menno (Reola) Horn; one son, Wesley Friesen; one son-in-law, Menno Horn; two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Betty Friesen and Mrs. Wesley Friesen; seven grandchildren, all of Fresno, and a large circle of relatives and friends.

Those preceding him in death were his parents and two sisters. His son Harry preceded him in death two days earlier. — The Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1962 Oct 9 p. 652