Obituaries

FRIESEN, Victor

April 5, 1926 - August 9, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father Victor David Friesen. Our dad was born April 5, 1926 in Adelsheim, Russia and passed away August 9, 2020 in Kelowna, British Columbia.

It was his happy lot in life to be surrounded by women; he was the oldest child of Anna and Abram Friesen with 6 younger sisters, and after marrying Mary Bartel in 1954 he was blessed with 5 daughters.

His teen years were spent in Russia escaping communism by moving his mother and siblings to Germany. In 1948, he immigrated to Canada supported by family and the MCC in hopes of providing a better life for his mother and sisters with a destination of Winnipeg. After several temporary jobs that took him across Canada, he helped settle his mother and sisters in Kelowna. Unable to find steady employment he moved to Ontario in 1953 and started working for the Ford Motor Company; first in Windsor and then in Oakville. It was then that he realized that he had left his love behind in Kelowna. Mom and dad were married in Kelowna on April 25, 1954, and lived in Burlington, Ontario. There, they raised their family for the next 20 years. Because of a promise dad had made to our mom, he moved the family back to Kelowna in 1974. They built a home in Oyama and established a retail shoe business until he retired in the fall of 1988.

His retirement years were spent doing the things he loved: playing cards, story telling, visiting with friends, volunteering with MCC and numerous trips to Sycamous. Through the years he drew people to himself with his sense of humour and funny stories which included owning a goat farm. Dad valued family and loved the times when we could all be together. Dad is survived by Mary (née Bartel), his wife of 66 years. He will be missed by his 5 daughters and their spouses; 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; 5 surviving sisters; and many nieces and nephews, family and friends.

A special thank-you to Sun Pointe for the support you provided our father in his final years.

A Private Celebration of life will be held to hounour Victor. The family would like to invite all who would like to pay their respects to join by Livestream on Friday, August 14, 2020 at 4:00 pm. To view the Livestream or send the family condolences please visit www.springfieldfuneralhome.com.

Link: www.springfieldfuneralhome.com/obituaries/friesen-victor

Condolence Messages

Aug 13, 2020
Fond memories of last years Visit up to our Happy Place ! Vic was a great man! Full of life and countless stories! Positivity was his key to have lived 94 years!

Condolences to the family.

Eric and Linda Schlichting
Aug 13, 2020
I have always enjoyed your dads stories and that special twinkle in his eye. I still have a goat that he gave me in my office.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Bonnie deVries SPV
Aug 13, 2020
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Arnie Schneider
Aug 12, 2020
I volunteer at Sun Pointe and I saw him a lot, he was a nice person . He will be missed but not forgotten . May he Rest In Peace, sorry for the loss sending lots of love . From Taylor B
Aug 12, 2020
i met your Dad when he came in for coffee at the Mcdonalds i manage... He always had his lovely smile and a tinkle in his eye...Such a gentleman... Your family are in our prayers and thoughts...God Bless...Teresa Shemley- Mcdonalds Manager