Menno M. Friesen

Menno M. Friesen, 83, of Goshen, died unexpectedly Wednesday evening, March 23, 2016, at Goshen Hospital after hip replacement surgery.

He was born August 11, 1932, in Meade, Kansas to Henry A. and Margaret L. (Loewen) Friesen.

Menno married Shirley J. Penner on August 21, 1956 in Garden City, Kansas.

Menno and family moved to Goshen in 1974.  Menno is survived by his wife of 59 years, Shirley Penner Friesen, whom he met while they were both attending Tabor College in Kansas, and three children, Paul S. Friesen of Middlebury, Laura J. Friesen of Indianapolis and Julia Y. Friesen of Winfield, Illinois, and eight grandchildren, Tasha, Takoda, Chayton and Tatiana Friesen, Owen and Liam Friesen, and Connor Morency and Ray Black.

Menno was president of Friesen Building Corporation, a builder of steel buildings locally such as Goshen Airport hangar, self-storage buildings on Eisenhower Drive, an auto show room, commercial buildings on Reliance Road, an auto parts store in Bristol to name a few.

Menno, the middle child of seven siblings, grew up on a wheat farm in western Kansas, and after college, went on to get his PhD in American literature, and taught at Drake University and then at Goshen College, before he and Shirley moved with their children to London, England, in 1969 to serve as directors at London Mennonite Centre for the Elkhart Mission Board.

Menno had long had an appreciation for fine wood and furniture, and took woodworking courses at Drake, and made furniture for his family.  While in England, Menno noted the plentiful and fine antique furniture available for sale, and returned to Goshen to open Fireside Antiques on US 33 near Peddler’s Auction.  Menno often said that his family was more interested in saving the antiques than in selling them, and he eventually moved on from selling antiques to selling steel buildings, and grew his own business in commercial real estate.

Menno is also survived by two siblings, Esther Smoker of Lititz, Pennsylvania, and Marvin Friesen of Plains, Texas.

Friends may call Saturday, April 2, 2016, from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Gathering Room at College Mennonite Church.  A memorial service will conducted on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at 3 p.m. at College Mennonite Church.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.