GEORGE JACOB FRIESEN

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GEORGE JACOB FRIESEN May 1, 1914 - June 27, 2007 With sadness, the family of George Jacob Friesen announces his passing on June 27, 2007. George will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 68 years, Katharina; children, Elsie (Martin) Neufeld, Waldemar, Helene Merrell, Margaret, George; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; those who considered him their Opa or Grandpa, as well as many relatives and friends in Canada, Ukraine, and Germany. He is survived by four sisters-in-law, Maria Wiens, Winnipeg, Aganetha Driedeger, Germany, Margaretha Krahn, Crystal City, Katherine Friesen, Steinbach. He was predeceased by his parents, siblings and son-in-law Robert Merrell. He is the last of his family's generation. George was born on May 1, 1914, in Perschotrawenka near Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, the youngest of five children. His first five decades of life were filled with many trials and hardships. His father passed away when George was three. George survived the First World War, the Russian Revolution and was held for three years in Soviet concentration camps; first doing hard labour in the construction of the Moscow-Volga Canal and then as a technician at an agriculture research rehabilitation station in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. After his release, George obtained a Science degree and became a mathematics teacher. In January, 1939, he married Katharina Friesen. They had two children in Ukraine. The family survived the Nazi invasion and fled to Germany where they survived the Allied forces invasion and the ensuing turmoil. Their third child was born in Germany, where George worked as a labourer. In 1947, with the help of Canadian relatives, the family immigrated to Manitoba, Canada. At first George worked in a lumber camp in Vermillion Bay, ON, on an extra gang for the C.P.R. and later in a gravel pit. During this time he also helped Katharina run a mixed farm which supplied most of the family's food in the early days. Two more children were born in Canada. In 1966, when he had learned English sufficiently, in his unique way, he accepted a support staff position in the Botany Department, University of Manitoba, and life became easier. In Manitoba, the family lived in Ste. Elizabeth, Pine Ridge, St. Adolphe, and Winnipeg. After his retirement in 1979, he and Katharina enjoyed many winters in La Feria, in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. George returned to the Ukraine at age 90 to see his homeland and reunite with relatives and former students. George was foremost dedicated to family. He was delighted at the arrival of each grandchild and great-grandchild and was always interested in their well-being and activities. His caring and generosity extended beyond his immediate family to those in Ukraine and Germany. George had a zest for life and was a person of principle, resilience, humour, charm, intelligence and wisdom. Many will remember George as a storyteller with a remarkable memory for details. He often recounted his experiences as a survivor of Stalin's workers' paradise , the famine of the 1920s, the Holodomor (Great Famine-Genocide, 1932 to 1933) and the Second World War. His greatest passions were chess and horticulture. He grew a great variety of plants - from pines to palms - often from seed. The family would like to thank Louise Pfitzner, the staff of Victoria General Hospital and Poseidon Personal Care Home for their support and care. Visits from family and friends were much appreciated by George. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Ukraine Ministry, The Mennonite Benevolent Society, 1045 Concordia Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2K 3S7 or other charity. Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 30, 2007 at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Ave., Winnipeg. Viewing will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. prior to the service. Arrangements entrusted to: Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 30, 2007