Paul C. Friesen
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Paul C.
Friesen, 75, died Tuesday (Dec. 6, 2005) at Forrest Hospital in Hattiesburg,
Miss. He was born Oct. 5, 1930, to Henry Cornelius and Martha (Voth) Friesen in
Buhler. They preceded him in death. He married Maurine Walter Aug. 19, 1952, at
Bethel Church in Yale, S.D. She survives of the home. He was a member of
Koerner Heights Church in Newton and a member of Bethel Church in South Dakota.
He retired from the Mennonite Brethren Mission Board where he served as a
missionary. He performed pastoral leadership training for the Ashaninca Tribe
in Peru. He also developed Sunday school curriculums and song books. He was a
Sunday school teacher. In the most recent years, he devoted much of his time to
translating the Old Testament for the Ashaninca.
He was fluent in five
languages and had a special love for Low German. He was a graduate of Bethel
College, Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Neb., and attended Mennonite Brethren
Theological Seminary in Fresno, Calif.
He was very athletic and
loved to play volleyball. His hobby was people. He was known as a person who
loved people and was a great friend to many.
Other survivors include: a
daughter, Susette Jewel and husband Ron of Melbourne, Fla.; sons, Mark Friesen
and wife Urby of Pucallpa, Peru, John Friesen and wife Robin of Waxahachie,
Texas, Paul Friesen and wife Amanda of North Newton and Bruce Friesen and wife
Natalie of Ferndale, Wash.; a brother, Roland H. Friesen of Upland, Ind.; 11
grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
He also was preceded in death
by: a sister, Arlene Allen; and an infant daughter, Jeanette Elaine Friesen.
Visitation will be from 1 to
9 p.m. Sunday at Petersen Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be 10
a.m. Monday at Grace Community Church with Pastors Mark Isaac, Albert Epp and
David E. Reimer officiating.
Graveside committal service
will be 2 p.m. Monday at Buhler Cemetery.
Memorials have been
established with the Ashaninca Old Testament Translation Project-Mennonite
Brethren Foundation in care of the funeral home.