Gerald "Jerry" Friesen

Gerald (Jerry) Mathias Friesen, age 85, of Faribault, MN, passed away Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at Oak Hill Assisted Living in Grand Rapids, MN, following an extended illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 10, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault.  Interment will be at the St. Lawrence Cemetery in Faribault.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home, 1725 Lyndale Ave. N., Faribault on Sunday from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and on Monday for one hour prior to the services at the church.

Gerald Mathias Friesen, the son of Edward and Rose (Simon) Friesen, was born on February 2, 1933 in Faribault, MN.  He was united in marriage to Cecelia Karp on May 15, 1954 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Faribault.  Jerry and Ceil lived in North Mankato, MN and raised their family, before moving back to Faribault in 1980.  Jerry and Ceil had a hobby farm by Amboy, MN and spent a lot of time gardening and enjoying nature.  Jerry shared what he saw in nature around him in his paintings and drawings.  He passed along his belief in being a good steward of the land to his family and grandchildren.  He also enjoyed woodworking, making birdhouses and refinishing furniture.  Jerry worked at Prudential for 25 years.  Upon retirement, he and Ceil operated a used bookstore in Faribault.

Jerry treasured family and history.  He enjoyed researching his family history and making many trips around Minnesota and Wisconsin to do so.  Family was important to him and he enjoyed spending time attending his children and grandchildren’s concerts and sports activities, taking pride in their achievements.

Jerry was active in the Catholic Church and School Board in Mankato and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Special thanks to the caregivers at Oak Hill Assisted Living for their wonderful care and attention they gave Jerry.

Jerry will be missed by his wife of 64 years, Ceil Friesen; and their children, Rhonda (Tony) Meyer of Northfield, MN, Denise Friesen (Steve Gahm) of Mankato, Keith (Pam) Friesen of Grand Rapids, Kevin (Terri) Friesen of Grand Rapids, and Chris (Tim) Caron of Faribault; his grandchildren, Nick (Laura) Meyer, Andy (Erin) Meyer, Peter (Lauren) Meyer, Catie (Mike) Brady, Lea (Steve) Friesen, Stacy (Garrett) Holl, Sam (Ally) Friesen, Hannah Friesen, Natalie Friesen, Jacob Caron, Zachary Caron, and Cole Caron; his great grandchildren, Alex, Sam, and Ben Meyer, William and Anna Meyer, Cullen Brady, James and Franklin Gutoski, Christopher and Charlotte Sebestyen Friesen, and Katherine, Theodore, and Maya Holl; his brothers, Frank Friesen and Ken (Sandy) Friesen; sisters-in-law, Catherine Mino and Mary Lou Pluemer; brothers-in-law, Mike (Carol) Karp and Rich (Shirley) Karp; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Rose; brothers, Bill Friesen and Roger Friesen; sister, Jeanette O’Neil; mother and father-in-law, Mike and Mary Karp; sisters-in-law, Margaret Friesen, Sharon Friesen, and Mary Friesen; and brothers-in-law, Jim O’Neil, Les Mino, and Bob Pluemer.