Vernon Eugene "Vern" Friesen
1931 - 2020
Vernon Eugene "Vern" Friesen,
89, of Manhattan, died on September 13, 2020.
He was born April 14, 1931 in Buhler,
Kansas. His family moved to Idaho when he was young where he
graduated from American Falls High School in 1949, and returned to
Kansas to attend Bethel College at North Newton, Kansas where he
received a BA in Mathematics. He enjoyed telling people that during
school he played End and Guard on the football team - he sat at the
end of the bench and guarded the water cooler.
He performed alternative service,
working at a mental health facility during the Korean War, and went
on to earn a Masters In Teaching of Mathematics at the University of
Illinois, and later a PhD in Education in 1975 from KSU. He got his
first teaching job at Palatine Township High School in Illinois, then
served on faculty at McPherson College and KSU, and finally spent
many years teaching math at Fort Riley Middle School until his
retirement. Through his life he also lived, worked, and learned in
Greeley, Colorado and Tucson, Arizona.
Vernon married Wanda Bollinger, and to
this union were born three children: Amy (Ward), Janell (Epp), and
Jeff. They later divorced. He then married Ann Long, and became
stepfather to Susie (Troutt) and Chuck. Vern and Ann adopted two
children, April (Garner-Lake) and Haley.
Vernon was active in the Manhattan
Mennonite Church until his health restricted his activities. During
his marriage to Ann, they were foster parents to many dozens of
children in need of a short term or longer term safe, loving home. It
is believed in many cases this was the first safe, loving home some
of those children had known. He had been active in Kiwanis, and
helped build homes for others via Habitat for Humanity. He was known
for a variety of corny jokes which were uniquely Vern - or "Vipz"
as he was known in college. Even when hospitalized near the end, when
asked how he was doing, he quickly responded "I'm Friesen!"
to which the nurse offered a warm blanket, only to be met with a
laugh and explanation "no, that's my name!" He loved
reading the newspaper and watching football.
Vern is survived by Ann and all of
their children, his siblings Mildred Schmidt, Larry, Jim and Donald
Friesen, four sons-in-law, eighteen grandchildren, and ten great
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and
Louise Friesen and brothers Leo Friesen and Melvin Friesen.
Memorial service will be held in
Manhattan Kansas on October 3. See funeral home website for time, yet
to be determined. Private burial service for the family will be held
at Cedar Creek Cemetery near Manhattan, Kansas.
Memorial contributions in memory of
Vernon are suggested to Habitat for Humanity. Contributions may be
left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616
Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
