Former First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, pastor, Jacob T. Friesen died June 6, 2020, at Kidron Bethel Village, North Newton, Kansas.
He was born on Dec. 30, 1919, to Jacob L. and Helena Toews Friesen, Mountain Lake, Minn. Jacob married Lisbeth Koehn of Meno, Oklahoma, Sept. 2, 1945, and she preceded him in death on Jan. 20, 1971.
He graduated from Bethel College, Kansas, in 1944. Advanced degrees earned include a Th.B. from New York Biblical Seminary and a Th.M. from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
In 1953-54 he and Lisbeth served with MCC as director, living in Frankfurt, West Germany. In 1956 he accepted the pastorate of First Mennonite Church of Bluffton, serving from 1956-67. Jacob was director of admissions at Bluffton College 1967-69.
Jacob served on the General Conference Mennonite Church Board of Education and Publication for 15 years, Vice President of General Conference for six years, and Central District Conference Pastor for six years.
He established the office of Ministerial Leadership Services of General Conference and served as director for 10 years.
He gave leadership for 10 years to the Great Plains Seminary Education Program, helping to establish it as a viable graduate level educational opportunity. He developed and directed a public forum, the Growing Edge, focused on difficult and controversial public and church-related issues.
In 1972, he married Lola Regier Wiebe. She died Nov. 21, 2019.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eveline and Rosella; and two brothers, Arno and Elmer.
Family members surviving include: Priscilla Friesen Felton and Rob Felton, Washington, D.C.; Jacob L Friesen (Jake) and Armen Guzelimian, Camarillo, Calif.; Von Friesen and Christy Neece Friesen, Athens, Ga.; Ruth Wiebe-Tanner and Roland Tanner, Mesa, Ariz.; Mark and Kathy Lyndaker Wiebe, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Mary Wiebe Patten and Mike Patten, Whitestown, Ind.; and Lois Wiebe Koulouris and Tom Koulouris, Hollywood, Fla.
Three grandchildren, Jaclyn, Riley, and McKenna Friesen; 10 step grandchildren; Nathan (Anne) Hofer, Katie Hofer, Jordan Berry, William (Abbie) Wiebe, Dorian (Linnzi) Patten, Justin (Rachel) Patten, Sarah Patten (Christian) Sagardia, Angela Quijano, Anne Felton (Chip) Paque, Catherine Felton (Sam) Moy and 12 step great grandchildren: Isaac and Maya Paque; Madison, Eli, and Teagan Moy; Graham and Reid Hofer; Lyle and Troy Patten; Douglas and Jeshurun Patten; Audrey Sagardia.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 26, at the Faith Mennonite Church, Newton, Kansas. The service will be streamed online simultaneously. Contact the Broadway Colonial Funeral Home for updated information.
In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to the Jacob T. and Lola Friesen Memorial Fund for the Vision Impaired at Kidron Bethel.
https://kidronbethel.org/giving/donate or checks payable to Kidron Bethel Village with designation in the memo: send to KBV % Fund Advancement,
3001 Ivy Drive, North Newton, KS 67117.
