Friesen Remembered As Man Of Integrity

The victim of a motorcycle collision this week near Maple Creek is being remembered in his home community of Steinbach, Manitoba.

John Friesen, 63, was killed after the bike he was riding lost control on Highway 1 west of the intersection of Highway 21 on Monday evening. He was the owner of Freisen Drillers, a water well drilling company in Steinbach, and was a prominent businessman in the city located just southeast of Winnipeg.

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen told SteinbachOnline.com that the death of Friesen is a huge loss to the community.

"John made a real impact with anybody he came into contact with, whether it was through business, where he was a very fair business person, or whether it was through his personal life, where he was encouraging, he was real and he had vision for his life and others," Goertzen said. "He made a big impact, not only in business, but in people's lives. He was a very, fair, good and generous business person."

Earl Unger, Pastor at Stony Brook Fellowship in Steinbach, said that John was a "totally passionate person", and gave one hundred per cent to everything he committed himself to.

"He was a wonderful businessman and very successful businessman," says Unger. "But I think that he also was a tremendously passionate believer in Jesus Christ, and that came through in the latter years of his life."

Friesen is being remembered as a man of integrity, and Unger says that's exactly the person he came to know and consider a good friend. Unger notes as a successful businessman, Friesen felt he had something to offer others, both from a business standpoint but also on a spiritual level. It was in that area he felt he could be of use in the Church setting.

Unger says he was devastated to learn the news of Friesen's passing. The two had come to know each other very well over the last number of months, spending many Thursday mornings together as part of discipleship.

Funeral arrangements for John Friesen have not yet been announced.

Maple Creek RCMP are continuing to investigate the collision.