Friesen, Jacob R. (1887-1970)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Jan 29 p. 11

Birth date: 1887 Aug 22

text of obituary:

JACOB R. FRIESEN

Jacob R. Friesen was born on Aug. 22, 1887 to Jacob J. and Margaret Reimer Friesen at Fairbury, Neb. He married Susie R. Friesen on March 7, 1909. To this union were born four sons and three daughters. His first wife passed away on March 18, 1919. He married Katherina Classen on May 22, 1919. To this union were born five sons and two daughters. His second wife passed away on Nov. 18, 1968.

Father accepted Christ as personal Savior on March 17, 1943. He joined the Emmanuel Mennonite Church of Meade on April 11, 1944. He carried a deep burden for the lost and because of this burden he spent much time in prayer for them. As an expression of that burden and of his love for the Lord, he took on a ministry of personal evangelism and tract distribution. This had its effects and influence across the country and reached into foreign countries as well. He sought to live according to the standards of the Word of God.

For a good portion of his life he farmed south of Meade and carried on a windmill business.

He was in comparatively good health all of his life. On May 28, 1969 he fell and broke his hip. Even though somewhat handicapped by this he was able to get around until the last few months. On Monday, Jan. 5, he suffered a heart attack in the late afternoon and passed away about an hour later.

In addition to his first and second wives, he was preceded in death by a daughter Katherine at the age of 15; a son Hein, at about one year of age; a son John through a car accident on April 23, 1957; one brother and three sisters.

He is survived by seven sons, Ben and wife Elizabeth, Jake and wife Margaret, Abe and wife Margaret, Cornie and wife Anna, Henry and wife Agnes, all of Meade, Pete and wife Wilma of Malaga, Spain, and Isaac and wife Helen of Edinburg, Texas; four daughters, Margaret and husband Henry K. Reimer, Anna and husband John Siemens, both of Meade, Susie and husband Art Householder of Eureka, Ill., Elizabeth and husband Walter Penner of Hutchinson, Kan.; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mildred Friesen of Goshen, Ind.; one sister, Mrs. David Neufeld of Bolivia; 39 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." — The Bereaved Family.