Freda Friesen
Paul Friesen, 91, finished his earthly journey on March 19, 2025, at Sierra View
Homes, Reedley, CA. He was born at home on January 19, 1934, near Inola, OK,
the eleventh child of J. W. and Tina (Harder) Friesen. Both of his parents came to
the United States from the Ukraine as children and Paul's first language was
German.
Paul was eleven when he accepted Jesus as his Savior and four years later was
baptized at Schlehuber Lake, near Hillsboro, KS, and he joined the Hillsboro
Mennonite Brethren Church. He was active in the church his entire life, teaching
Sunday School classes, singing in the choir, and being part of various committees.
Paul graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1951. He worked on the family farm
for two years, followed by two years in military alternative service at General Rose
Hospital, Denver, CO. He then entered Tabor College and graduated with a BA
degree in English. He graduated from Denver University with an MA, and Texas
Tech with a Ph.D. His major was American Literature, which he taught, along with
other offerings in the English department, for over 40 years. His first six years
were in high schools (Corn Bible Academy (OK), Minneapolis High School (KS),
Goessel High School (KS)). Then at Southern Colorado State College, Pueblo CO,
Rockmont College, Denver CO, Hesston College, Hesston KS, Tabor College,
Hillsboro KS, and after retiring, part time at Reedley College, Reedley CA.
On June 10, 1966, Paul married Freda Hartzler, whom he met at his mother's
house one Thanksgiving Day. They had two daughters: Cynthia Roxanne and
Rachelle Dianne.
Paul's avocation and hobby was woodworking. He made improvements in the
various houses they lived in and joined his brothers in various projects, including a
family cabin at Deer Creek Camp in Colorado. He built many pieces of their
furniture, and many of his gifts to family members were homemade items of
wood.
Paul enjoyed singing and was part of choirs, men's quartets, and small groups
almost his entire life, including the Mennonite Men's Chorus in KS and CA. During
family reunions he and his seven living brothers regularly spent much time singing
together. He also enjoyed listening to music, and Southern Gospel was his favorite.
Paul enjoyed reading, especially stories about missionaries and animals. He liked
to play games. He and Freda played Scrabble on their first date, and they played
regularly until almost the day of his death. He liked to write, mostly short pieces
for specific occasions. He wrote stories about his childhood on the farm. He wrote
two books, one on the author Flannery O'Connor, and the other on prayers from
the Bible. He wrote the script and took many of the pictures for a multimedia
presentation of ten American authors which was marketed during his early years
as a college teacher.
Because Paul had a school schedule, the family traveled nearly every summer. He
visited all 50 states, most of the Canadian provinces, Mexico, and Europe. After
his daughter Cyndi and family moved to Indonesia to serve with Mustard Seed
International, he and Freda visited them twice. Many of their travels included
literary sites where they would visit homes and related areas of the authors he
taught, and that became part of his teaching. He and Freda were tour guides for
Prudent Travel during the time they lived in Hillsboro.
Family reunions happened regularly and the family attended most of them,
attempting to keep up with the growing families. Family was important to Paul and
he enjoyed interacting with his siblings and sharing what had happened since the
last reunion. In addition to singing together, there were many games of
horseshoes. He and his siblings spent hours reminiscing about their growing-up
years and the many wonderful adventures they had. Because the number and age
span of the children limited each one's awareness of the other, there were often
incidents one remembered that others didn't even know about. There were always
many new members to fit in to the families from the previous reunion, creating a
fun challenge for him.
While living in Pueblo, Paul was involved with the Gideons. Paul volunteered at the
Mennonite Central Committee thrift shop, Etcetera, in Hillsboro KS. After moving to
CA, he became involved in the Nearly New store, another MCC thrift shop. For a
number of years he spent every morning at the store, cleaning, repairing, and
preparing items to be sold in the store. Building something for the MCC relief sale
was an annual practice for many years. One year he built a 1/16th scale model
remote controlled 1680 Case International combine. He also volunteered on work
sites for Mennonite Disaster Service, Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade, and
Wycliffe Associates. Paul had a strong desire to serve and enjoyed finding projects
that matched his interests and abilities.
Besides his wife, Freda, Paul is survived by his daughters Cyndi (Paul) Richardson,
Chelle (Scott) Sugimoto, grandchildren, Katie Richardson, Josiah Richardson,
Stephen Richardson, Allison Sugimoto, Ashley Sugimoto, and Tiffany Sugimoto, a
sister-in-law, Marjorie Friesen, a brother, Marvin, and his wife Mary Ellen Friesen,
and many nieces and nephews of several generations. He is predeceased by his
parents, his brothers, David, Arthur (Hannah), John (Mary), Jake (Ruth), Calvin
(Betty), Herbert (Ruth), and Frank, and sisters Esther (Waldo) Friesen, Ruth (Harold)Voth, and Martha (Richard) Ainley.
Homes, Reedley, CA. He was born at home on January 19, 1934, near Inola, OK,
the eleventh child of J. W. and Tina (Harder) Friesen. Both of his parents came to
the United States from the Ukraine as children and Paul's first language was
German.
Paul was eleven when he accepted Jesus as his Savior and four years later was
baptized at Schlehuber Lake, near Hillsboro, KS, and he joined the Hillsboro
Mennonite Brethren Church. He was active in the church his entire life, teaching
Sunday School classes, singing in the choir, and being part of various committees.
Paul graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1951. He worked on the family farm
for two years, followed by two years in military alternative service at General Rose
Hospital, Denver, CO. He then entered Tabor College and graduated with a BA
degree in English. He graduated from Denver University with an MA, and Texas
Tech with a Ph.D. His major was American Literature, which he taught, along with
other offerings in the English department, for over 40 years. His first six years
were in high schools (Corn Bible Academy (OK), Minneapolis High School (KS),
Goessel High School (KS)). Then at Southern Colorado State College, Pueblo CO,
Rockmont College, Denver CO, Hesston College, Hesston KS, Tabor College,
Hillsboro KS, and after retiring, part time at Reedley College, Reedley CA.
On June 10, 1966, Paul married Freda Hartzler, whom he met at his mother's
house one Thanksgiving Day. They had two daughters: Cynthia Roxanne and
Rachelle Dianne.
Paul's avocation and hobby was woodworking. He made improvements in the
various houses they lived in and joined his brothers in various projects, including a
family cabin at Deer Creek Camp in Colorado. He built many pieces of their
furniture, and many of his gifts to family members were homemade items of
wood.
Paul enjoyed singing and was part of choirs, men's quartets, and small groups
almost his entire life, including the Mennonite Men's Chorus in KS and CA. During
family reunions he and his seven living brothers regularly spent much time singing
together. He also enjoyed listening to music, and Southern Gospel was his favorite.
Paul enjoyed reading, especially stories about missionaries and animals. He liked
to play games. He and Freda played Scrabble on their first date, and they played
regularly until almost the day of his death. He liked to write, mostly short pieces
for specific occasions. He wrote stories about his childhood on the farm. He wrote
two books, one on the author Flannery O'Connor, and the other on prayers from
the Bible. He wrote the script and took many of the pictures for a multimedia
presentation of ten American authors which was marketed during his early years
as a college teacher.
Because Paul had a school schedule, the family traveled nearly every summer. He
visited all 50 states, most of the Canadian provinces, Mexico, and Europe. After
his daughter Cyndi and family moved to Indonesia to serve with Mustard Seed
International, he and Freda visited them twice. Many of their travels included
literary sites where they would visit homes and related areas of the authors he
taught, and that became part of his teaching. He and Freda were tour guides for
Prudent Travel during the time they lived in Hillsboro.
Family reunions happened regularly and the family attended most of them,
attempting to keep up with the growing families. Family was important to Paul and
he enjoyed interacting with his siblings and sharing what had happened since the
last reunion. In addition to singing together, there were many games of
horseshoes. He and his siblings spent hours reminiscing about their growing-up
years and the many wonderful adventures they had. Because the number and age
span of the children limited each one's awareness of the other, there were often
incidents one remembered that others didn't even know about. There were always
many new members to fit in to the families from the previous reunion, creating a
fun challenge for him.
While living in Pueblo, Paul was involved with the Gideons. Paul volunteered at the
Mennonite Central Committee thrift shop, Etcetera, in Hillsboro KS. After moving to
CA, he became involved in the Nearly New store, another MCC thrift shop. For a
number of years he spent every morning at the store, cleaning, repairing, and
preparing items to be sold in the store. Building something for the MCC relief sale
was an annual practice for many years. One year he built a 1/16th scale model
remote controlled 1680 Case International combine. He also volunteered on work
sites for Mennonite Disaster Service, Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade, and
Wycliffe Associates. Paul had a strong desire to serve and enjoyed finding projects
that matched his interests and abilities.
Besides his wife, Freda, Paul is survived by his daughters Cyndi (Paul) Richardson,
Chelle (Scott) Sugimoto, grandchildren, Katie Richardson, Josiah Richardson,
Stephen Richardson, Allison Sugimoto, Ashley Sugimoto, and Tiffany Sugimoto, a
sister-in-law, Marjorie Friesen, a brother, Marvin, and his wife Mary Ellen Friesen,
and many nieces and nephews of several generations. He is predeceased by his
parents, his brothers, David, Arthur (Hannah), John (Mary), Jake (Ruth), Calvin
(Betty), Herbert (Ruth), and Frank, and sisters Esther (Waldo) Friesen, Ruth (Harold)Voth, and Martha (Richard) Ainley.
