MEADE – Menno A. (Mick) Friesen, age 95, passed away Friday morning, August 20, 2021, at the Lone Tree Retirement Care Center, Meade, Kansas.

He was born August 30, 1925, in rural Meade County, Kansas the son of Jacob S. and Anna S. (Doerksen) Friesen.  As a young boy he attended the Goodwill School in rural Meade County.  At the age of eighteen, he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized on August 6, 1944.  That same year he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving during World War II and was honorably discharged as a Pharmacist's Mate Third Class.  After his discharge, he attended Bethel College, then Friends University receiving his flight training and certification as a private pilot.  He then returned to Meade County and began his career as a farmer, rancher, and later at the age of 60 as a bus driver for Meade USD 226 for twenty-two years.

On June 2, 1948, he married Hilda L. Wiens at the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church.  After their marriage the couple made their home in rural Meade County.

He was active in church and church leadership and sang in the men's quartet for many years. Later in life, he attended the Emmanuel Mennonite Church.  He was an avid sports fan, rarely missing any sporting events home or away of the Meade Buffaloes and of his grandchildren and cheered on his Kansas City Royals.

He is survived by two sons, Mike Friesen and wife Cindy of Meade, and Greg Friesen and wife Tree of Taylors, South Carolina; six grandchildren, Josh, Laressa, Jordan, Aron, Ethen, and Mickey; ten great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Kambrie, Kaleb, Kara, Kiah, Justus, Karis, Javan, Judah, and Lucy; and a sister, Bea Peters (age 100) of California.

He is preceded in death by his wife Hilda on October 17, 2011; parents; five brothers, Martin, Elias, Sam, Leonard, and Clifford Friesen; and four sisters, Hulda Friesen, Justina Friesen, Esther Peters, and Kathryn Keesling.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 28, 2021, at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Meade.  Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.  Interment with Veterans Honor will take place prior to the funeral service at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, in the Graceland Cemetery, Meade.

The family would welcome memorials to the Emmanuel Mennonite Church in care of the funeral home.