ISBRANDT FRIESEN

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ISBRANDT FRIESEN August 7, 1911 - June 28, 2003 Isbrandt Friesen passed away peacefully in the early hours of June 28, 2003 at the age of 91 after a brief illness. He was born in Schoenau, Ukraine to Isbrandt and Maria (nee Reimer) Friesen. In 1934, he received his diploma as a technician for agricultural machinery. As one of three students recognized for the exceptional results on their final exams, he was hired as a teacher in Nowomirgorod and taught there for seven years. In 1938 he met and married Helene Luba Sokolowa and they had two sons, Willy, born August 1939 and Isbrandt, born February 1942. With the arrival of the war, life was more uncertain until the arrival of German occupation troops. From that time until their departure he worked for various sections of the German military. In March 1944 their flight west began. They were removed to Odessa and after seven or eight weeks of travel they arrived in Germany. In May 1944 they were granted German citizenship and not long after he was drafted. In September 1944 he had to leave his family. Although his wife was able to visit him only once in Berlin and he never saw the children again. Eventually he received news that his family had been loaded into a freight train and shipped back to Russia just eight days after wars end. He was trained in the radio news service and continued at this work until captured by American troops in May 1945. He remained in captivity until May 1946. He then travelled to Germany to join with the Mennonites intent on immigrating to Canada and was relocated by the Red Cross to northern Germany. Because he could not go to Canada, he chose to go to Paraguay. After four months there he joined a school friend in Curitiba, Brazil where he met Margarete Froese and they were married in 1952. The desire for Canada persisted and they were able to emigrate in 1956 and settle in Manitoba. Initially he worked as a mechanic in Winnipeg. He ended his work years as a teacher of diesel mechanics in Dauphin and then Portage la Prairie. On retirement he returned to Winnipeg where he enjoyed the company of friends and relatives for many years. In 2002 he and Margarete were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his wife Margarete, sisters-in-law Erna Dyck, Helen (Jake) Warkentin, Sadie Petkau and Kathleen (David) Klassen and brother-in-law Abe (Anita) Froese as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 2 at 1:30 p.m. at Bethania Personal Care Home, 1045 Concordia Ave. with Rev. Edwin Epp and Chaplain Gerhard Friesen officiating. Viewing will be at the Care Home prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethania Personal Care Home. KLASSEN Funeral Chapel 1897 Henderson-North of McIvor-338-0331

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 31, 1969