Obituary of John L Friesen
1923-2025
Born to Johan M and Helena Friesen (nee Hiebert) on September 24 or 25, 1923 in the village of Schanzenfeld south of Winkler.
Passed away at Salem Personal Care Home, August 9, 2025.
John is survived by his wife Anne, children MaryAnne (Brian) Hildebrand, Elizabeth Derksen, James (Sharon) Friesen and Frances Friesen and their families.
John was the third of thirteen children. He was predeceased by four sisters (one as a young child) and six brothers. He is survived by brothers Abe L (Winkler) and Irvin Friesen (Vancouver).
Dad was born on the family farm in Schanzenfeld just 5 years after the first World War ended. He experienced the long drought that swept the prairies in the 1930s and turned 16 in 1939 when the Second World War began. Before the war was over, John, for reasons of his pacifist faith, requested and was granted Conscientious Objector status. His alternative service included shoveling coal into rail cars at Symington Yards in Winnipeg.
Dad called Schanzenfeld home until he married Anne Krahn of the neighbouring village of Chortitz in 1947. Their love for each other was strong and enduring, spanning nearly 78 years. They showed their love openly and especially at birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions to celebrate, through flowers, cards and hugs. His love for their grandchildren and great grandchildren was intense, sharing fun and often strange traditions that became unique memories. He had a major love of sweets, including his signature orange ice cream floats, shared across three generations. Dad always loved giving kisses on the cheek, with his scratchy stubble making it memorable.
Dad started off farming on land he received from his parents south of Winkler. He soon realized that farming was not something he enjoyed. In 1958 our family moved just east of Winkler where dad was employed by Kroeker Farms, managing their 40,000-egg laying chicken farm. In 1967 we moved to Winkler where dad took on a couple of shorter-term management positions in manufacturing and trucking.
About 1971, he was recruited to the CEO position at Salem Home which meant he would be chaplain, worship and music director, personal banker and other roles. Five years later, he was invited to Ebenezer Personal Care Home in Altona as their administrator. Here, mom and dad made many new and lasting friendships. He completed his working career there after 13 years at which point he retired at the age of 66 and mom and dad moved back to Winkler as their retirement community. Dad took up golfing for the first time in his life and he enjoyed many years of casual golf with a couple of his buddies.
Dad was always keenly aware of his lack of education beyond grade seven, especially in his positions of institutional health care administration. He made up the difference with his compassionate, wise and balanced approach to working with a wide range of people, positions and politics. He carried his natural gifts into his work with humility and over the years, we as family have heard countless testimonies from individuals who had worked with dad in various capacities.
John was called into church ministry along with mom, carrying out the duties of deacons, and later as lay minister in the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church the whole time they enjoyed membership in that congregation. Dad dedicated countless hours and evenings in that service, many times providing hospitality and visits to individuals, often on the margins of society.
Although we might say that dad took his faith very seriously, he also embodied those same intentions through an amazing and enduring sense of humour. Dad was able to hold these qualities in tension, making a deep and lasting impression on us as a family, including his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dad was consistent in his parenting. Although we obviously didn't always agree with his “rules", we knew exactly where he stood.
John was always generous with his love. Family fun was important. Road trips across Canada numerous times, everyone shoe-horned into the car, with a homemade plywood cargo box on the roof. Later in retirement mom and dad enjoyed long road trips, vacations with friends, a couple of trips overseas to Africa and Germany.
The family wishes to thank the administration and staff at Salem, who have given compassionate and professional care to both mom and dad now for just over 5 years. Having both parents in your care has allowed us as family to be family.
Thanks also to everyone who has held mom and dad in your hearts. We are thankful that dad has been blessed with a long life on this earth and we know it is well with his soul.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
1923-2025
Born to Johan M and Helena Friesen (nee Hiebert) on September 24 or 25, 1923 in the village of Schanzenfeld south of Winkler.
Passed away at Salem Personal Care Home, August 9, 2025.
John is survived by his wife Anne, children MaryAnne (Brian) Hildebrand, Elizabeth Derksen, James (Sharon) Friesen and Frances Friesen and their families.
John was the third of thirteen children. He was predeceased by four sisters (one as a young child) and six brothers. He is survived by brothers Abe L (Winkler) and Irvin Friesen (Vancouver).
Dad was born on the family farm in Schanzenfeld just 5 years after the first World War ended. He experienced the long drought that swept the prairies in the 1930s and turned 16 in 1939 when the Second World War began. Before the war was over, John, for reasons of his pacifist faith, requested and was granted Conscientious Objector status. His alternative service included shoveling coal into rail cars at Symington Yards in Winnipeg.
Dad called Schanzenfeld home until he married Anne Krahn of the neighbouring village of Chortitz in 1947. Their love for each other was strong and enduring, spanning nearly 78 years. They showed their love openly and especially at birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions to celebrate, through flowers, cards and hugs. His love for their grandchildren and great grandchildren was intense, sharing fun and often strange traditions that became unique memories. He had a major love of sweets, including his signature orange ice cream floats, shared across three generations. Dad always loved giving kisses on the cheek, with his scratchy stubble making it memorable.
Dad started off farming on land he received from his parents south of Winkler. He soon realized that farming was not something he enjoyed. In 1958 our family moved just east of Winkler where dad was employed by Kroeker Farms, managing their 40,000-egg laying chicken farm. In 1967 we moved to Winkler where dad took on a couple of shorter-term management positions in manufacturing and trucking.
About 1971, he was recruited to the CEO position at Salem Home which meant he would be chaplain, worship and music director, personal banker and other roles. Five years later, he was invited to Ebenezer Personal Care Home in Altona as their administrator. Here, mom and dad made many new and lasting friendships. He completed his working career there after 13 years at which point he retired at the age of 66 and mom and dad moved back to Winkler as their retirement community. Dad took up golfing for the first time in his life and he enjoyed many years of casual golf with a couple of his buddies.
Dad was always keenly aware of his lack of education beyond grade seven, especially in his positions of institutional health care administration. He made up the difference with his compassionate, wise and balanced approach to working with a wide range of people, positions and politics. He carried his natural gifts into his work with humility and over the years, we as family have heard countless testimonies from individuals who had worked with dad in various capacities.
John was called into church ministry along with mom, carrying out the duties of deacons, and later as lay minister in the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church the whole time they enjoyed membership in that congregation. Dad dedicated countless hours and evenings in that service, many times providing hospitality and visits to individuals, often on the margins of society.
Although we might say that dad took his faith very seriously, he also embodied those same intentions through an amazing and enduring sense of humour. Dad was able to hold these qualities in tension, making a deep and lasting impression on us as a family, including his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dad was consistent in his parenting. Although we obviously didn't always agree with his “rules", we knew exactly where he stood.
John was always generous with his love. Family fun was important. Road trips across Canada numerous times, everyone shoe-horned into the car, with a homemade plywood cargo box on the roof. Later in retirement mom and dad enjoyed long road trips, vacations with friends, a couple of trips overseas to Africa and Germany.
The family wishes to thank the administration and staff at Salem, who have given compassionate and professional care to both mom and dad now for just over 5 years. Having both parents in your care has allowed us as family to be family.
Thanks also to everyone who has held mom and dad in your hearts. We are thankful that dad has been blessed with a long life on this earth and we know it is well with his soul.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13