PETER FRIESEN

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PETER FRIESEN Peacefully, on November 19, 2017, Peter passed away at Donwood Manor with his family by his side. Predeceased by his wife Maria, their daughter Heidi, his parents and sisters, he will be missed by his children Werner, Irene, Ingrid and Drew and their partners, as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and by his brother Abram. Peter was born June 6, 1927 in Petershagen, Ukraine. In the late 1940's, he travelled to Paraguay where he became a teacher, and where he met and married Maria Wiebe in 1952. Peter and Maria came to Canada in 1953 and over the next several years they started their family and Peter earned his Canadian teaching credentials. He began his teaching career in Bearskin Lake, Ontario teaching grades 1-8 in a one-room school. He went on to teach high school for many years in Minnedosa, and for the last ten years of his teaching career he taught grade four (his favorite age) in Schantzenfeld, Manitoba. Peter was also an ordained minister and served as the pastor of the Justice MB Church for a few years. After retiring from teaching, Peter and Maria travelled often to spend holidays with their children, grand-children, great-grandchildren and longtime friends, across Canada and in Germany. Peter was a curious, intelligent and energetic man who felt called to be an educator and a minister. He was committed to serve his church, his community and his profession. Peter was an active member of the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church and enjoyed many music and cultural events with Maria. His faith was a source of strength and the church was where he felt the strongest sense of belonging. Peter was grateful, and proud, to be a Canadian, and felt that it truly was his land of opportunity. In Peter's own words, he said, "I have had a fulfilled life." Peter's family is especially grateful for the kind and compassionate care of the staff at Donwood Manor and of Dr. David Martin in the last year of his life. The funeral service will be held on Monday, November 27, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, 1315 Gateway Road, with viewing prior to the service. Private interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peter's memory to the Gideons International in Canada.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 25, 2017