Mildred E. Friesen

Mildred Friesen, 95, of Goshen, died Friday, July 29, 2016 at Greencroft Healthcare.

She was born to Henry and Matilda (Wagner) Garber on October 15, 1920 in Eureka, Illinois.  The second of 3 children, Mildred grew up on a large homestead farm where her father, among other things, raised 16 Belgian horses.    During her younger years, Eureka was the Pumpkin Center of the World where she worked at the Libby, McNeill and Libby canning factory.

Mildred grew up attending church and was a member of Roanoke Mennonite Church where she was baptized.  She met and married John Z. Friesen on February 9, 1950. Prior to their marriage, John spent 3 years in China with Mennonite Central Committee.

John and Mildred had four children: Jay, Howard, Gwen, and Rachel.  John was killed in a car accident on April 23, 1957.  John's wish for their children was that they have the opportunity to attend a Christian High School.  Since there were no local schools available to attend, John always told Mildred that God would provide a way.  Mildred moved her family to Goshen, Indiana so that they could attend Bethany Christian High School.

Mildred found employment at Covercraft as a seamstress.  She also served as a Red Coat Volunteer at Goshen Hospital for 22 years, along with volunteering once a month for 30 years at The Depot.  Since arriving in Goshen in 1965, Mildred has been an active member of East Goshen Mennonite Church.

Along with her parents and her husband John, she was preceded in death by her sister Irma Noe.

Mildred is survived by her four children, Jay Friesen, Ft.Wayne, Howard (Maribeth Diener) Friesen, Goshen, Gwen (Tim) Hershberger, Goshen,  and Rachel (Tim) Strombeck, Kalamazoo, Michigan; a brother, Lester (Barbara) Garber, Bloomington, Illinois; 13 cherished grandchildren; and 8 adored great grandchildren.

Her body was donated to the Indiana University Anatomical Education Program in Indianapolis.

Visitation will be Friday, August 19, 2016 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, August 20, 2016 beginning at 10:30 a.m. prior to the 11 a.m. Celebration of Life service at East Goshen Mennonite Church.