Rev. Leland J. Friesen, 68, of Ashland, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord following a courageous battle with cancer late Thursday evening, May 26, 2011 in his home.
Services were held today (Sunday, May 29) at the Grace Brethren Church in Ashland with Reverend Norm Johnson officiating. The family received friends and guests following the service.
An additional memorial service will be held at the Brooksville, Fla., Grace Brethren Church, where he pastored for 11 years, at a later date.
Leland was born on January 24, 1943 in Butterfield, Minn. to the late John R. and Marie (nee Quiring) Friesen.
He married the love of his life, the former Janelle Fuhrman, on July 18, 1964. He was a well educated man having graduated from Butterfield High School in 1961. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from the Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Neb. and his Master’s Degree of Divinity from Grace Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind.
Leland retired in 2007 from the Brooksville Grace Brethren Church in Florida after having been the church’s pastor for eleven years. Throughout his career, he ministered more than 43 years in which 37 of those years were in various Grace Brethren Churches.
He was a devoted attendee of the Ashland Grace Brethren Church and enjoyed fishing, camping, wood working, and reading; although, spending time with his family and grandchildren was by far the most important.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years of marriage, Janelle Friesen of Ashland; one daughter, Shari (Nate) Benyousky of Warsaw, Ind.; one son, Dr. Steve (Stephanie) Friesen of Ashland; six grandchildren, Daniel, Joelle, Tara, Kaylee, Jason, and Drew; two sisters, Shirley (Arnold) Dick of Long Prairie, Minn. and Sandy Warling of Memphis, Tenn.; and two brothers, Roger Friesen of Minneapolis, Minn., and Howard (Rhonda) Friesen of Mankato, Minn.
In addition to his parents, Leland is preceded in death by a sister, Verna Hempeck.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, OH 44805 or to Ashland Grace Brethren Church, 1144 West Main Street, Ashland, OH 44805.
Online condolences may be shared at www.dpkfh.com.