Margaret Friesen

Obituary

Margaret Friesen (nee Goertzen, nee Harms), age 88 of Steinbach, MB., passed away peacefully at Rest Haven Care Home, Steinbach, MB., on Friday, February 28, 2025.

She is survived by her beloved husband John Friesen; brother Pete Harms; sons Dale Goertzen and Danny Goertzen; daughters Tanya Goertzen, Angela Funk, Valerie Goertzen (Mark Harrison), Diane Janzen (Doug); granddaughters Elizabeth Wheeler (Nigel), Aura Funk, Lauren Niezen (Brad) and Catherine Janzen (Mike Unrau); and great-grandchildren Freya Blair Wheeler and Daniel Niezen. She will also be remembered by her step-children John Friesen, Pearl Klippenstein (Phil), Audrey Henschell (Perry) and Mark Friesen (Leslie). She is also survived by many Harms, Goertzen and Friesen relatives.

She was predeceased by her parents John and Sara Harms; Henry Goertzen (husband); Kit Funk (son-in-law), sisters Anne Thiessen and Lydia Reimer; and Harms brothers John, Frank, Henry and Jake. She is also predeceased by Harms, Goertzen and Friesen relatives who are lovingly remembered.

Margaret was born on a farm in Bristol, MB. She described her childhood as idyllic and she always spoke about how close she was to her Dad, John, who was a tender and caring father. In 1958 she married Henry Goertzen and they ran a mixed farm for many years before moving into Steinbach. They raised six children together. Margaret worked for the Manitoba Telephone System before getting married and then as a Nurses’ Aide for many years at the Rest Haven. She loved her work and the residents, and it was in the waning years of her life that Rest Haven came to take such good care of her. Henry passed away in 2004 and Margaret moved into Fernwood Manor some years later. In 2018 she married John Friesen and they had a number of good years together before she required additional care and moved to the Vita Care Home and then to Rest Haven.

At the core of Margaret was her faith. This meant everything to her. She was a member of the Gospel Fellowship Church for many years singing in various choirs and trios, teaching Sunday school, serving as the music librarian and cleaning the church. Margaret was also passionate about gardening, sometimes having four gardens at once. Her yards were something to behold. She spent many a happy hour at her acreage gardening and building everything from the ground up. She was also an amazing seamstress, sewing everything in a daughter’s wedding (even the suits) and was a great cook and baker.

Special thanks is given to the caring staff at the Rest Haven, Vita Care Home, to Pastor Darrell Dyck who visited her often and to everyone who supported Margaret.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Gospel Fellowship Church, Steinbach, MB., with viewing beginning at 9:00 a.m.

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