John E. Friesen

John "Cot" Edward Friesen passed away Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 at Chapman Valley Manor Nursing Home. The visitation will be held at Penwell-Gabel-Johnson Chapel Friday, February 4th, from 6 –8 pm. The gravesite service will be at Milford Cemetery on Saturday at 11 am and there will be a Celebration of His Life later that day at 2pm in the First United Methodist Church of Junction City.

Memorial contributions may be given to the KU Alzheimer and Memory Program c/o KU Endowment, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160 and note "Dr. Burns' Alzheimer's Development Fund" in the notation area.

He was preceded in death by his parents "Pete" and Anna (Pauls) Friesen and his sister Ella Mae (husband: Waldo Enns). He is survived by his two other sisters Matilda "Till" (husband: "Cork" Stout) and Betty (husband: Gary Ely). He is also survived by his wife Nancy A. (Mall) Friesen , his daughter Carol A. (Friesen) Baber, his son Wayne E. Friesen, his grandchildren Cole, Austin and Jackson Baber, his nephews Russell, Lowell and Darrel Ely and Rick Stout, and his nieces Joanne and Kathy Enns.

John was a reserved but affectionate man and he loved his family more than anything else. He is finally resting after a long illness. He was born in a Mennonite family in Inman, KS where he finished high-school . He attended the Municipal University of Wichita majoring in Education while he played college basketball. Then he obtained his Master of Arts at Colorado State College.

When the Korean War started he joined the Air Force for several years achieving the rank of First Lieutenant and was stationed in Dover, Delaware. He then left the Air Force to pursue his calling as a high-school teacher of driver's education, mathematics, physical education and ultimately his passion coaching basketball and football.