Raymond Friesema

Racine- Raymond Friesema, 83, died peacefully at his home, with family members attending him, on Friday morning, May 6, 2011  following a courageous four-year battle with cancer.

He was born June 28, 1927 at the farm home to Jacob and Mamie (nee: Dykstra) Friesema.  His schooling began at a one-room school (Sylvania).  With the family moving to Racine, he was educated in the Racine schools, graduating in the Washington Park High School “Class of 1945”.  His father picked up Ray’s diploma however, because Ray was already in the U. S. Navy, with the Seabees stationed on Guam. Upon his release in October of 1946, he enrolled in classes at Parkside, and from there to MSOE pursuing an education in mechanical engineering. 

On September 24, 1949, he married the former Hazel Jacobson in a ceremony at the Calvary Memorial Church, then called the Gospel Tabernacle.  He has been very involved in the ministry of the church all his life, serving as a Sunday School teacher, board member of the finance committee and Missionary committee.  For the past 22 years he has been the greeter at a main entrance, serving people, particularly those handicapped.  His faithfulness and friendliness has endeared him to many.  That service has only been terminated because of his illness.

His lifetime has been spent in the machine tool industry, working at Tree Tool & Die, Famco Machinery in Kenosha, Tru-Trace Corporation of California and culminating with many years as a manufacturers’ rep for Seaberg Machinery of New York.  His territory covered many of the Midwestern States and his “best tool” of the trade was his Mooney airplane that he owned and piloted. In addition to business, his plane was often used as a means of carrying out missions of mercy.  He always enjoyed his work, but was happy to return as quickly as possible to the family.  Every position he held, was with the understanding that for him, God took first place, his family came second, and then the job.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Hazel, their five children:  John  (Jean) Friesema, Bill (Trudy) Friesema, all of Woodland Park, Colorado; Mary Claire Friesema of Denver, CO; Kay (Chuck) Smith of Lake George, CO, and Jayne (Bob) Bradford of Hammond, WI; twelve grandchildren,  Jason (Trish) Friesema, Josh (AnnMarie) Friesema, all of Woodland Park, CO; John (Annie) Friesema, Jr., of Colorado Springs, CO; Sam (Jessica) Friesema of Cleveland, OH; Shelly  (Nathan) Reitz of Pagosa Springs, CO; Krystal (Dre) Arceneaux of  Arvada, CO; Nick Leiting of Texas; Sgt. Brent (Katie) Lang, serving in Afghanistan; Katrina Lang (fiancée Matt Pulda) of Sturtevant; Grant Lang of Racine; Philip (Katie) Buckles, of Roseville, MN; and Kim Bradford of Hammond, WI. There are also 15 great-grandchildren.   Ray has a sister, Clara (Fred) Schaefer of Racine and a brother Jacob (Murly) Friesema of Aurora, Illinois; their children, Rev. Tim (Marie) Friesema and Lori Friesema.  Ray has two sisters-in-law, Joyce (Fred) Larson of Racine and Grace Stried of Zion, Illinois. There are also numerous  nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ray was pre-deceased by his parents, Jacob and Mamie Friesema, and by an older brother, John, killed in WWII and buried in Holland. 

Visitation will be held at Draeger Langendorf Funeral Home at 4600 County Line Road, Racine from 5 – 8pm on Sunday evening, May 8, 2011.  There will also be visitation on Monday, May 9, 2011 at Calvary Memorial Church, 4001 Washington Avenue, Racine, from 9:30am until service time at 11 am with Rev. Nathan James officiating. Private interment will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials  may be made to the Missions fund of Calvary Memorial Church or to Youth for Christ of Racine.

The family wishes to express gratitude to Dr. Michael Mullane and also to Dr. James Taylor for their compassionate, tender care throughout the years of Ray’s illness.