Funeral For: Frank R. Froese
Funeral Date: April 24, 2025
Frank R. Froese, 93, of Steinbach passed away Thursday, April 17th at Maplewood Manor. He is survived by his wife, Katharina; their children, Helen and George Fehr, Ste. Anne; Ben and Shari, Kingsville, Ontario; Netty and Bernhard Reimer, Blumenort; Eva, Altona; Tina and Linford Wiebe, Ste. Anne; Frank and Lanita, Steinbach; Ike and Cindy, Ridgewood; Anna and Torrey Westrom, Alexandria, Minnesota; Becky and Ron Goertzen, Madisonville, Kentucky; Sara and Justin Friesen, Rector, Arkansas; Ray and Lisa, Ste. Anne; thirty-six grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, one sister in law, six brothers-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends. He was predeceased by 1 son Clifford, one infant granddaughter, Sophia, 2 brothers, 8 half-siblings and 6 step-siblings.
The funeral service for Frank R. Froese will be held Thursday, April 24th at 10:30am at Greenland Church of God in Christ, Mennonite with burial at the church cemetery.
Viewing will be at Crossings Funeral Care Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:30pm and at the church prior to the service.
Arrangements by Crossings Funeral Care, Steinbach.
Frank R. Froese was born November 19, 1931, to Franz and Aganetha Froese near Cuautemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. He peacefully went home while the clock chimed 11:00 pm, on April 17, 2025, at the Maplewood Manor in Steinbach, Manitoba, reaching the age of ninety-three years. His wife Katharina and several of the children were at his bedside. Dad was a quiet and meticulous man, talented in mechanical and metal work and diligent in maintaining his belongings. Above all, dad loved his family. His eyes lit up with a radiant smile whenever he met his little grandchildren. More than anything, Dad desired that his family would be saved.
Dad’s father passed away when he was five years old. Five years later, his mother married Bernhard B. Penner, a widower with six children.
On September 5,1954 Frank married Katharina Dyck. Together, they shared life’s joys and sorrows for over seventy years and raised eleven children - four sons and seven daughters. The first eleven years of their married life were spent in Mexico. Initially, they lived near Mom’s parents in the Cuauhtémoc area. Later they purchased a mixed farm near Jagueyes.
Dad and Mom, with their five children, packed up their belongings and moved to Spanish Lookout, Belize in May of 1965. Their long, arduous journey took them across the sandy, rocky roads of the semi-arid desert, to the sticky gumbo paths through the tropical rain forest. The final leg of their move was just a trail through the jungle to their land. They cleared a couple of acres, set up a small house, built a welding and machine shop and began raising cattle, poultry, and grain. Six more children were born to them in Belize.
Dad spent some of his youth years in soul searching. As a young couple, Dad and Mom felt the Lord calling them to draw closer to Him. Their search led them to relocate to a village in Mexico, where Dad met the Lord and found peace in his heart. After moving to Spanish Lookout, Belize and going through various experiences, they finally found the church home their hearts were longing for. On February 10, 1976, Dad and Mom were baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite by Minister Cornie Friesen. Dad remained faithful to his vows until God called him home.
In March of 1985, Dad and Mom, along with most of the family, again packed their belongings into their blue Dodge van and made the long trek through Mexico and the United States and settled in the Greenland congregation near Ste Anne, Manitoba, Canada. While en-route, they received word that Katharina’s father had been tragically taken from this life. They left their children with a missionary family in Mexico while they returned to Belize to bury their father.
Upon arriving in Canada, they settled into a farmhouse and Dad found employment as maintenance technician at Hart Feeds. Two years later they purchased a hog farm near Blumenort, Manitoba and made their home there.
In 2003 Dad and Mom moved into their retirement home near Greenland Church where they resided for twenty years. For a hobby, Dad would repair things. He especially enjoyed fixing chime clocks and often had a clock or two hanging on the wall while he was testing them. Dad and Mom dearly enjoyed spending time with their family. Many family gatherings were hosted in their none-too-large retirement home. Family camping became an annual tradition. As long as Dad was able, the family would spend three nights every summer camping in Manitoba or Ontario. Many happy memories were made at these events. Even when much younger people would have opted for a cabin, Dad and Mom pitched their tent and camped in the great outdoors with the rest of us.
Due to failing health, Dad spent the last two years of his life at Maplewood Manor. The family extends a sincere thank you to the manor staff for the loving care Dad received. Mom patiently spent many hours at his side, attending to his needs.
Dad was preceded in death by one grandson, Clifford, age twenty-five, one infant granddaughter, Sophia, two brothers, eight half siblings and six step siblings.
He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Katharina; their children, Helen and George Fehr, Ste. Anne; Ben and Shari, Kingsville, Ontario; Netty and Bernhard Reimer, Blumenort; Eva, Altona; Tina and Linford Wiebe, Ste. Anne; Frank and Lanita, Steinbach; Ike and Cindy, Ridgewood; Anna and Torrey Westrom, Alexandria, Minnesota; Becky and Ron Goertzen, Madisonville, Kentucky; Sara and Justin Friesen, Rector, Arkansas; Ray and Lisa, Ste. Anne; thirty-six grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, one sister in law, six brothers-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends.