Obituary of Wilmer Friesen

January 17, 1932 – April 17, 2015 Wilmer (known to most as Bill) Friesen was born on January 17, 1932 to parents John R. and Wanda (Regier) Friesen on their farm in the Tiefengrund area near Laird. His formative years were spent surrounded by a loving family, and were a combination of formal education at the Tiefengrund School, work on the farm, activities at the Tiefengrund Church, and hockey and softball played together with his brother Arnold and their many cousins and neighbours in the area. Farm work was always a favourite use of his time. Bill started milking cows at the age of six, helped along with the yard and fieldwork soon after, and at the age of 15 decided that life was much more fulfilling working than sitting at a school desk; so he ended his formal education and began helping his dad and brothers. He was baptized upon Confession of Faith in his Lord Jesus at the age of 19 by Reverend J.J. Rempel, joining the Tiefengrund congregation where he continued to attend until late in life when he was no longer able to travel to church on his own. In 1956, Bill met Ruth Jantzen, the new teacher at the nearby Riverlot School, who happened to be friends with his sister Louise. He knew he had found his future wife and farming partner, so he proposed on Valentine’s Day, 1957. The two were married on October 11, 1957 and settled down to a lifetime of farming. In 1960, Bonnita was born, followed by Allan in 1964. Over the years, the family lived in three different locations, but always on farms with the same routine of seeding and harvest, mending fences and doing the chores. His career as a farmer spanned 65 years; basically a total of two lifetime careers in one lifetime. Bill’s greatest joy was found in his animals. If one listened intently, the quiet of the farm was regularly punctuated by his calling of the cows for milking or the chickens for feeding, his talking to the dog while he worked around the yard and his conversations in the barn with his cats, he whispering and they purring. Feeding time started on the minute, every twelve hours, for much of his life. When he was no longer able to walk to the barn, or even drive his RTV there, he enjoyed watching the birds that came to feed near his window. Besides his work, Bill only had a few pastimes. He cheered for the Toronto Maple Leafs his entire life, even when their loyalty wasn’t deserved, and Hockey Night in Canada was a mainstay of the household. He loved spending time with children, and although his own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were extra special, he took pleasure in being around other youngsters as well. In later years, he also enjoyed writing poems that centred on the themes of farming and his Christian faith. Bill left his beloved farm for the final time in October of 2014, spending the last six months of his life at the Mennonite Nursing Home in Rosthern where he greatly appreciated the care given to him. He died peacefully during the early hours of Friday, April 17, 2015. Bill was predeceased by his wife Ruth, his parents John R. and Wanda Friesen, his brothers Paul, Ed, Bob, Tim, Herb and Elmer, and his sister Louise. He is survived by his brother Arnold, his sisters Doris, Alice, Merla, and Margaret, his daughter Bonnita (husband Greg St. Pierre) and son Allan (wife Maryvel), his grandchildren Alyssa Penner (husband Kenton), Joshua St. Pierre (wife Charis), Kimberly Williams (husband Tyler), Mikhael Friesen, and Hannah Friesen, and his great-grandchildren Katrina, Titus, Tekoa, Annika, Rowan and Boston. As family we mourn his loss, but are thankful for the love he gave us and the faith in Jesus that he passed on to us. We rejoice that he is once again healthy in the arms of his Saviour. The Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, April 20, 2015 at Tiefengrund Rosenort Mennonite Church officiated by Pastor Russ Friesen. Interment will take place at Tiefengrund Cemetery. Arrangements are in care of Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK.