Gerhard S. Friesen Children

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Gerhard’s First Marriage

Gerhard S. Friesen fathered eight children with his first wife, Maria nee Wiebe.

· Maria W. Friesen (1875-1876) (obit) died in an oxcart accident on Main Street, Winnipeg, at the age of eighteen months.

· Gerhard W. Friesen (1876-1956) (bio page1, bio page2, bio page3, photos) has been described as a hard working man, a lover of horses, and a teamster of reputation. He moved often and proved three homesteads in his lifetime. Gerhard married Anna Wiebe and the couple had six children. He retired from active farming in 1947 and passed away in Alberta shortly before his eightieth birthday.

· Maria W. Friesen (1878-1880) died at two years of age.

· Heinrich W. Friesen (1879-1933) (note, photos) was born near what is now Kleefeld, Manitoba. He grew up in North Dakota, and moved to Sunnyslope, Alberta in 1904. He took a trip to Saskatchewan and there married Anna Giesbrecht. Two months after their wedding, they returned to Sunnyslope. In 1912, Heinrich and family moved to Winton, California. Heinrich died suddenly of a heart attack in 1933, at the age of 53.

· Maria W. Friesen (1880-1945) was born near what is now Kleefeld, Manitoba. She grew up in North Dakota. She married Peter M. Penner of Prairie Rose, Manitoba on January 16, 1902. Shortly thereafter, the couple moved to Sunnyslope, where her father had signed paperwork on their behalf to prove a homestead. Maria and Peter moved to Manitoba in 1906 and remained their for the rest of their days. Maria raised nine children, including two adopted daughters. She was greatly saddened when her husband passed away from appendicitis in 1936. Maria died of a heart attack on April 10, 1945, at the age of 64.

· David W. Friesen (1882-1933) was a businessman. He was married twice. He applied to fight in WWI for the U.S., but was turned down on medical grounds.

· Katharina W. Friesen (1884-1886) passed away as a toddler.

· Eliesabeth W. Friesen (1885-1885) passed away as an infant.

Gerhard’s Second Marriage

Gerhard S. Friesen fathered ten children with his second wife, Henrietta nee Koehler (1863-1948).

· Elizabeth K. Friesen (1891-1961) married Peter Engst. They settled in Provost, Alberta.

· Katharina K. Friesen (1892-1892) passed away as an infant.

· Susan K. Friesen (1893-1966) married David B. Friesen (1889-1968). They lived for many years in Edmonton, Alberta.

· Jakob K. Friesen (1894-1894) passed away as an infant.

· John K. Friesen (1896-1942) married Helena Ensz. They settled in Fort Macleod, Saskatchewan. John served in France with the American Expeditionary Force 47th division infantry during WWI. He died when his vehicle was hit by a train.

· Aaron “Ernie” K. Friesen (1896-1969) married Ellen Bunse. They lived in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

· Peter K. Friesen (1898-1979) married Helena Loewen.

· Martha K. Friesen (1899-?) married twice: first Friedrich (Alfred) Beach, then Fred Summer.

· Tina K. Friesen (1901-1974) married twice: first William McCaig, then William James Hood. They lived for a time in a sod hut.

· Esther K. Friesen (1905-1994) married David A. Schmidt. They lived many years in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Back to the Friesen page.