Donald Friesen

  • Donald Friesen
  • Date of Passing: February 4, 2023
  • Born in: 1953

Obituary

Donald Roy was born to Peter and Margaret Friesen on Saturday, June 27,1953. The first boy after five girls! Another sister joined in a few years.

Donald had a happy childhood on the Twin Creek farm. He had many adventurous escapades, usually including Marie. Trees to climb, a creek to paddle along, a barn “shuppa” (attic) to play in, and a huge yard to discover.

At six, Donald started going to Twin Creek school, a small country school, half a mile from home. He took grades 1-5 here.

In 1965, when Donald was almost 12, the family sold their Twin Creek farm and moved to Fisher Branch. He was happy to live near his cousin Vern, and they continued their friendship for almost 60 years.

We took many enjoyable family trips. To Mexico, Black Hills, Detroit Lakes, and trips to Alberta to see Marie and her family.

After grade right, Donald was done school, and he stayed home and helped on the family farm. Raising pigs and working the fields. Later, he also joined his dad in the plumbing business. Dad bought a backhoe, which Donald enjoyed operating and became very good at it.

Eventually, he moved to Winnipeg and worked in construction, living in a high-rise apartment in East Kildonan. He moved back to work with his dad again and bought his sister Linda’s farm. After he sold it, he moved back to Winnipeg and later to Blumenort, where he bought his parent’s house. He semi-retired at 40, working part-time in Winnipeg driving gravel truck, mostly at night for snow clearing.

Donald enjoyed 25 years in his Blumenort house, taking care of his yard, which was always in immaculate condition. He was a collector and always kept those things very organized. A real passion of his was walking, weather didn’t stop him, he’d just put on more layers of clothes, the last while even covering his face with a scarf. He walked miles in Steinbach and also in Blumenort. He enjoyed meeting and saying hi to people along the way.

Family was very important to Donald. He carried around his little nieces and nephews to calm them down, and in later years, his great nieces and nephews. There was something special about Uncle Donald. The kids made numerous notes and drew pictures for him, and he saved them all and hung them on his basement walls. Donald was always so quick to help out with whatever we needed. We’ll miss that.

We will have many fond memories of our annual family weekend at Gimli Bible Camp, especially the Chicken Chef chicken he bought for everyone every Saturday supper. It was an annual tradition for Donald and Alyssa to go to Gimli to pick it up. He loved the cottage walks and the walks to the lake. And we remember the canoe ride and dumping him into the lake.

Also special to us will be the last big family gatherings at Alyssa’s and Val’s this past summer and Christmas at Debbie’s.

So many memories will be tucked away in our hearts.

We will miss Donald tremendously. There will be a big empty spot at every family gathering. We have hope that he joined mom and dad in heaven and that we’ll see him again one day!

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sisters Linda, Elda, Marie, Laura, and their families.

He was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Margaret Friesen.

“The years you have seen only one set of footprints my child, is when I carried you.”

According to Donald’s wishes there will not be public funeral service.

Funeral Details

Arrangements

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