Obituary
Story teller. Pianist. Author.
Trickster. Rolling Stones fan.
For some, one of the best friends of
their life.
Michael Eric Friesen passed away Sept.
2, 2018. He was born Feb. 3, 1959, the second son (he would say
second to none) of Karl and Betty Friesen.
Growing up in Newton, he passed the
halls while acing exams at South Breeze Elementary, Chisholm Middle
School and Newton High School. With more to learn, he earned an
Associate Degree in Business from Brown Mackie College. After using
it to gain a foothold in the corporate world, he then nourished his
musical and creative writing while earning a Bachelor of Arts at
Friends University.
He didn't need the university to make
friends, though, as he had many. They came to him naturally.
Responding to the news that he was gone, one told that "Mike is
the true friend we all hope we have in our lives." Another said,
"I will always remember him as one of the smartest, wisest,
funniest, most charismatic people I have met and probably will ever
meet."
Michael cruised through corporate
positions effortlessly: Boeing, Koch, Sprint and more. He was a model
for success; the title of one of his four books was "The Success
Paradigm." He gave an overview of it at the MIT Sloan Business
School, one of his crowning achievements.
One of, because of course, Michael's
best achievements in his life, his source of joy and pride, were his
children: Brooke, Anna and Andrew. They lifted his spirit. When his
grandchildren (Mindzie, Scarlett and Raef) arrived, he just about
floated away.
Thank you, Michael, for your tales tall
and small, for your love of music, for your loyalty, for your pranks,
for your love of life. Mostly, for your love. We will miss you
dearly.
Michael is survived by Brooke and Brett
Woodward, Scarlett and Raef; Anna Madsen and Mindzie; and Andrew
Michael; brothers, Gregory, Russell and Darrin; sisters-in-law,
Genevieve, Andrea and Linda; nephews and nieces: Gabrielle, Galen,
Noah, Hannah, Sam, Sophie, Grant, John, Elise and Gretchen; and his
loving mother, Betty. Finally, he is survived by his hope for the
future, which is now for us to embrace and fulfill.
There will be a private scattering of
ashes.
A Denver-area Remembrance will be held
at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 700
S. Franklin Street, Denver.
A Newton-area Remembrance will be held
in September 2019 to mark the anniversary of his departure. Details
forthcoming.
RIP Michael Eric Friesen. See you soon.
