In
memory of our loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.Peter Friesen
1938 – 2003
In
memory of our loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.
On April 14, 2003 at 1:55am Peter, age 64 beloved husband of Katherine passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus at the Boundary Trails Health Centre. He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma on March 15th and hospitalized March 17th.
Peter was born October 7, 1938 at the Bethel Hospital in Winkler, Manitoba to Jacob and Mary (nee Sawatsky) Friesen. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour in 1961 and was baptized upon the confession of his faith in 1962.
He grew up in Reinfeld and attended the Reinfeld Elementary School and Garden Valley Collegiate in Winkler. He continued his education at Red River Community College in the area of sheet metal design.
On July 8, 1962 he married his sweetheart Katherine Guenther.
Family was very important to Peter. His daily life reflected this value and out of his love for his family started a family business in the plastics industry called FSP Machinery Company. He became a pioneer in rotational moulding and working alongside his wife, his 8 children and their families operated this business for 26 years.
From early in their marriage Peter was innovative. He doodled on everything from the kitchen table, to countertops to napkins in restaurants all over the world. He njoyed every challenge he faced and always found a way to improve on any design. Even while he was in the hospital he wanted to redesign his bed to make it more efficient.
Peter believed in others and saw their potential even when they couldn’t. He always made time when others needed a listening ear and had a heart for the hurting and those in need.
Peter relied on the Lord for wisdom and guidance. In his last months his main concern was that people be in a right relationship with the Lord and he continually told the family he loved them.
Next to his family Peter enjoyed fishing, traveling and inventing.
He shared many joys and sorrows for 40 years with his beloved wife Katherine and their children; daughters Katherine of Winkler, Debra and Peter of Blumenort, Martha and Jeff of Winkler, Nita and Mel of the Haskett area, Lorna and Chris of Clearwater, Florida, sons Peter and Dianne of the Hochfeld area, Danny and Tara of Winkler, and David of Blumenfeld, nine grandsons and nine granddaughters. He has three brothers and four sisters, Kay, jake and Eleanor, Dave and Katherine, John and Helen, Helen and Pete, Evelyn and Larry, Anna and Jake and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was predeceased by his father Jacob in 1960, his mother Maria in 1998, one sister Maria in 1939 and one sister-in-law Helen in 1998.
The going home celebration was held on Saturday, April 19th at 2:00 p.m. at the Winkler Sommerfeld Mennonite Church with Bishop Peter Heppner and Rev. Dave Wiebe officiating.
Thank you to the staff at Boundary Trails Health Center for their care and for the many cards and flowers and visits from family and friends during the last months.
Funeral Service was held on Saturday, April 19, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. from the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church, Winkler. Interment followed at the Reinfeld Cemetery.
Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler in care of arrangements.