Friesen, John F. (1881-1968)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 May 23 p. 11

Birth date: 1881 Jan 15

text of obituary:

JOHN F. FRIESEN

John F. Friesen was born to Jacob and Elizabeth Friesen on Jan. 15, 1881. He grew up on a farm in Harvey County, Kansas, where he attended the rural school for a few years.

As a young man he was baptized upon his confession of faith by Elder Schellenberg, and united with the Ebenezer Church near Buhler, Kan.

In 1903 he was married to Aganetha Ediger. This union, which was terminated in 1963 by our mother's departure, lasted for 60 years and one week. Our parents were blessed with two sons and nine daughters.

Our parents lived on a farm in Harvey County, Kansas a few years after their marriage and then moved to Hooker, Okla. After some five years of hard pioneer work in this vicinity, they moved back to Harvey county, Kansas to continue their occupation of farming two miles north of Corn, Okla. Here we as a family experienced some of the great joys, but also some of the great trials of our family life.

In 1931 we purchased a home in the town of corn, Okla. and here our parents lived until they entered the Corn Home for the Aged about 10 years ago. Father enjoyed comparatively good health until the very last. Although he had his trials and problems, he had a faith in the Lord which was to sustain him in the hour of death.

He became seriously ill Monday, April 8, and Tuesday morning he was taken to the hospital in Weatherford, Okla. The next morning he departed to be with his Maker. He reached the age of 87 years, two months, and 25 days.

Those who remain to mourn his departure are the eleven children: Emma, Mrs. Henry Wiebe of Corn, Okla.; Selma, Mrs. Clifford Holm of Newton, Kan.; Herman of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Helen, Mrs. Ed Hinz of Blaine, Wash.; Dan of Denver, Colo.; Elizabeth, Mrs. Irvin Shepansky of Orosi, Calif.; Frieda, Mrs. Henry Regier of Corn, Okla.; Bertha, Mrs. Ted Schmidt of Reedley, Calif.; Martha, Mrs. Wesley Kroeker of El Reno, Okla.; Mandy, Mrs. Albert Hoock of Corn, Okla.; Ruby, Mrs. Vernon Penner of Fresno, Calif.

Also surviving are nine sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, 28 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dave Friesen of Newton, Kan.; and three sisters, Sarah, Mrs. John Holsechter of Burrton, Kan.; Margaret, Mrs. George Buller of Buhler, Kan.; and Esther, Mrs. John Bright of Reedley, Calif.

There are also six sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, and a host of friends that stand by at this hour of sorrow. — The Children.