John "Hans" Friesen was born on April 15, 1931 in the Village of Reinfeld (3 miles north of McMahon, Saskatchewan), and passed away on November 12, 2011 at the Palliser Regional Care Centre in Swift Current. The funeral service, officiated by Lay Assistant Barb Wiebe, was held on November 17, 2011 at Grace United Church in Swift Current. The pianist for the service was Joyce Hattum. The pallbearers were Shawn Hiebert, Chris Kehler, Lawrence Friesen, Barry Paul, Alvin Peters, and Garry Bettison, with Karen Paul and Jenelle Hiebert serving as ushers for the funeral service. Interment followed at Reinfeld Cemetery in the McMahon district. In memory of John "Hans" Friesen, donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Warren's Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. John Friesen grew up on the family farm in Reinfeld, and attended Iris School (grades 1-8), and Falkland School in McMahon (grade 9). Later, as an adult, he completed grade 10 at Wymark School. He recalled that he was not allowed to travel on the school bus to Wymark, since he was deemed to be to old to be travelling together with the other younger students. John was a young boy during the Dirty Thirties, and as was the case with many families at that time, money was scarce. He remembered that for a couple of years, he and his brother Henry spent the entire winters indoors, since boots or shoes were simply not affordable. There was no playing outside in the snow for these boys. During his adult years John tried numerous vocations. He worked as a veterinary assistant for some time, drove a gravel truck, and even operated a small general store in Reinfeld in partnership with his brother Henry. He then turned to farming, first north of Pambrun, then later back at Reinfeld, living on the yard of his boyhood home. John had several lifelong interests, which included airplanes (he attended a number of airshows over the years), John Deere tractors (especially 2 cylinder ones), drawing and art, and reading (especially politics and history). As related by a former classmate of his, sometimes he would combine some of these interests at school by going into painstaking detail painting and decorating a model airplane that he had assembled. John Friesen was the last of his siblings left, as all the others had predeceased him. He was predeceased by his parents Isaac and Maria (Klassen) Friesen. He was also predeceased by the following siblings and named spouses: Jacob(Margaret), Peter (Tina), Helen, Mary (Jacob) Hiebert, Isaac( Agnes), Abe, Henry, and a brother Johann in infancy. In addition, he was predeceased by nephew Donald Friesen, nieces Sheila and Sharon Friesen, nephew-in-law Ron Peters, and grandnephew Darren Friesen. John is survived by sister-in-law Pauline (Tony) Johner and the following nieces and nephews and their named spouses and partners: Charlotte(Brock) Nugent, Peggy(Phil) Koethler, Gen Peters, Stan(Sadie) Hiebert, Jackie (John) Chelew, Marion (Ed) Parkin, Mel Friesen, Charles Friesen (Ruth Johnson), Brian(Michelle) Friesen, Julie(John) Selby, Sandra(Mike) Elafson, and niece-in-law Anne (Dave) Penner. John also leaves behind numerous grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, neighbours, and friends. May you rest in peace Uncle Hans.