Elmer B. Friesen

Elmer B. Friesen, 88, of Meade died Sunday, September 27, 2020, at the Meade District Hospital, Meade, Kans.

He was born on September 3, 1932, to Ben Z. and Elizabeth A. (Classen) Friesen in the Mennonite community southeast of Meade, Kans., and was baptized as a teen by Rev. Henry R. Harms in the Emmanuel Mennonite Church of rural Meade.

He attended Sunrise School and later Meade Bible Academy, after which he enrolled for voluntary service with Mennonite Central Committee. It was during this time with MCC that he met his wife, Eunice A. (Brandt) Friesen, during a game of tennis. They were married December 10, 1955, at the Reedley (Calif.) Mennonite Brethren Church and made their homes in Fresno, Calif., Newton, Kans., and finally Meade, Kans.

Elmer built E&D Inc., his plumbing, electric, heating/air, and appliance business, with his son Danny, which served the Meade area for many years.

Following his retirement, he enjoyed farming, photography, woodworking, yardwork, and Mennonite genealogy. He and Eunice enjoyed many bus tours throughout their retirement and travelled throughout the entire contiguous United States and several Canadian provinces.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, his son Don, and his daughter-in-law Cheryl. He is survived by Eunice, his wife of nearly 65 years; two sons: Danny (Janette) of Meade and Duane (Carol) of Tulsa, Okla.; brother Ervin and sisters Pauline and Rosella; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service has been planned for Sunday, October 4, 2020, at 3:00 PM at the Meade Church of the Nazarene. Inurnment will follow at Graceland Cemetery near Meade. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to Mennonite Central Committee or the Meade Beam Senior Center, in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Funeral Home.