Erwin Friesen

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ERWIN FRIESEN

Erwin Plett Friesen was born on July 9, 1916 in the school district of Blumenhof, MB to Martin K and Justina Plett Friesen, the fourth child among nine siblings. He lived on the family farm until November 28, 1937 when he married Elizabeth Unger Plett, daughter of Abram R and Justina Unger Plett who lived in Greenland, MB at the time. After their marriage Erwin and Elizabeth settled down in Blumenhof where they lived on a farm for most of their married life.

Over the years 12 children were born into their family, including one still-born baby.

To supplement his farm income, Erwin spent most winters in forestry work, producing lumber, pulpwood, railroad ties and fenceposts. Most of the boys in the family got involved in this work at one time or another. In summer Erwin used his equipment to haul gravel and topsoil.Erwin and Lisa, as Elizabeth was known, and their family attended the Ridgewood EMC Church from the time it started in 1958. They served as a deacon couple in the church for many years.

Erwin loved music and singing. He played his harmonica frequently and eventually most of his boys also played. Early on dad also had a button accordion which in time he traded for a piano accordion and played a lot. In time, for some reason, he gave up the accordion, but never his harmonica. He kept playing until almost his last days. After his retirement, for many years, he played in a harmonica band.

One very notable quality of dad’s personality was his generosity, not only toward the church and various other organizations, but to anyone with a need. When some in his family suggested to him that perhaps, at times, he was being overly giving and generous, he replied that he felt God would not hold being generous against him.

Elizabeth, his first wife, struggled valiantly with cancer for a number of years, but finally lost her battle with this disease in 1988.

In May of 1989 Erwin married Matilda Hiebert. Matilda was also musical and the two of them – Matilda playing her autoharp and dad his harmonica – played and sang for audiences in personal care homes, seniors’ residences and many other places.

Matilda passed away in 2013.

Erwin lived a full and active life a month and a half into his one hundredth year. He went home to be with his Lord on August 27, 2015 while at the Bethesda Hospital.

He was predeceased by his parents, all his brothers and sisters except for his youngest brother, Ed and his wife Anna and sister-law-Elma Friesen. He was also predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth and his second wife, Matilda, and three sons, Gladwin, Henry and Brian.

Erwin will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by family and friends, acquaintances, and especially by his children and their families: Mel and wife Marlene, Victor and wife Valida, Abe and wife Lillian, Hilda and Husband Fred, Catherine and husband Dennis, daughter-in-law Linda, Grace and husband Bruce, Lauren and wife Emily and Leroy, thirty grandchildren and thirty-eight great grandchildren, and Elizabeth’s and Matilda’s families.

The Friesen family would like to thank the Resthaven staff for the care they gave our father for the last 3 ½ years of his life. You provided a home for him that felt like his home, a place where he could be himself, a place where he could express himself, and a place where he felt accepted and loved. Thank you for doing this for our dad.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

We have every confidence that our dad is more alive today than he ever was. We believe he has heard these blessed words from his Lord: “Well done good and faithful servant.”

The viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 162 Hwy 52 W., Steinbach, MB., and prior to the service.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., at Ridgewood Church, 37015 Hwy 311 E., Steinbach, MB. The burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Arrangements by
BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL
1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in The Carillon on Aug 31, 2015