George Gerald Friesen

August 16, 1939 - February 18, 2025

With great sadness we announce the sudden passing of George Friesen on February 18, 2025, his daughter by his side.

George was born in Greendale, BC, the third of four children of Cornelius and Maria Friesen. He spent his childhood on several small acreages in Sardis and Greendale, attending Vedder Elementary and Chilliwack Junior and graduating from Chilliwack Senior in 1956. He studied at MBBI in Clearbrook before transferring to Goshen College in Indiana, where he graduated with a BA in History in 1964. There he also fell in love with Sara Snyder, whom he married on July 9, 1965. They settled in Yarrow, where George taught at Sharon Mennonite Collegiate, and then in Surrey as he completed his teacher education at Western Washington University. George went on to employment at Rosedale Junior and Chilliwack Senior, teaching English and later leading the Learning Assistance department at CSSS. During this time, he and Sara raised three children.

George was an outdoorsman who summited peaks around the Fraser Valley with his brothers earlier in life and instilled a love of the mountains in his own family. He spent hours in his garden raising legendary tomatoes, raspberries, and grapes, and hours in his workshop crafting wooden things large and small. He supported his children in athletic and artistic pursuits and served alongside Sara at Sardis Community Church and in the Evensong chamber choir. In his final decade of teaching, he cycled to school rain or shine and ventured on long-distance summertime bicycle trips with colleagues.

George was a keen listener with a special heart for outsiders—a generous, caring man who lived out his Christian faith in tangible ways. He read widely and carefully, sought to understand different points of view, and pursued theological discussion with kindred spirits. He will be remembered as a patient, humble man of integrity, a compassionate teacher, a selfless husband and father, and a good friend to many.

After his retirement, George volunteered with Stillwood Camp, Mennonite Disaster Service, and Sardis Doorway for single mothers and children, while continuing to relate to new Canadians and people affected by incarceration as he had done in earlier years. In spite of a 2008 Parkinson's diagnosis, he continued cycling and travelling widely with Sara, taking daily walks, working with his hands, and babysitting his grandchildren. When Sara moved into care he visited her daily and eventually joined her in a double room.

Predeceased by brothers Frank and Hugo, and by Sara in December 2024, George is mourned by sister Carol Hiebert, daughter Jennifer Wieler (Gary), son Chris (Louise), son Matthew (Negar), and eleven grandchildren. A sincere thank-you to the staff at Cascade Lodge for their care of Dad over the past two years and to his fellow residents for their friendship. George's Celebration of Life will be held July 19, 2025, 2 pm, at Sardis Community Church, Chilliwack.