Kathleen Friesen
Kathleen Foster Friesen of North Newton
died Sunday (Nov. 12, 2017), surrounded by family in her home.
Kathleen was born July 27, 1959, in Goshen, Indiana, the first child
and only daughter of John F. Murray and Marilyn Stauffer Murray. She
grew up in Kouts, Indiana, and was active in the Hopewell Mennonite
Church, where her father served as a pastor.
Following high school, Kathleen
attended Goshen College, where she majored in Biology. While
attending graduate school in South Bend, Indiana, she met John
Foster. They were married on April 9, 1983, in Kouts and enjoyed a
marriage filled with many moves related to their work.
Following John Foster's death in 2002,
Kathleen continued working, with frequent visits to family in the
Hesston area where she eventually met and married Jon Friesen.
Kathleen pursued graduate studies along with her husband and received
a master's degree in Organizational Development from Friends
University; a degree that fed a passion for working with people and
organizations and led to self-employment that continued to allow for
travel and engagement in the lives of others.
Kathleen is remembered by the Murray
family, the Foster family and the Friesen family as a kind and loving
daughter, sister and aunt. She immersed herself in the lives of those
around her in a way that encouraged close and meaningful
relationships. This engagement extended even to friends and children
of friends who found her to be a supportive friend and companion.
She is survived by her husband, Jon
Friesen of the home; stepchildren, Blake Friesen of Newton and Jaecy
Friesen of North Newton; her parents, John and Marilyn Murray of
Hesston; a brother, John and his wife Krista of Hesston and their
children: John Nathan and his wife Denay, Joel and Meghana.
A memorial service will be held at 3
p.m. Saturday (Nov. 18, 2017) at the Hesston Mennonite Church in
Hesston, with visitation prior to the service from 1 to 3 p.m.
Interment will be at Eastlawn Cemetery in rural Harvey County.
Memorial contributions can be made to
Menno Clinic India Endowment Fund or Hesston College Aviation, and
sent through Peterson Funeral Home.
