Josie Mae Friesen, 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 22, 2014. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Dave Friesen.
Josie was born July 13, 1922 in Winton, California to Fred and Sayde Jantz. At about the age of 5, Josie and her three older brothers moved to Gustine with their parents, where her father owned Jantz’s Auto, a service station and garage. Josie graduated from Gustine Union High School.
Her first job was as a telephone operator in Gustine. When she first started work, she amusingly recalled running over quickly to the girl’s house who trained her to come help her with a problem call. Josie also worked for Cal Gas in Livingston for many years. In 1964 Dave and Josie sold their farm. A year later they opened Livingston True Value Hardware where Josie worked at Dave’s side as a secretary-bookkeeper until their retirement in 1981.
After retirement Josie and Dave spent many enjoyable years riding in their Model A while belonging to a Vintage Car Club. They also enjoyed many years traveling in their motorhome making many friends along the way.
In 2013 Josie had a major head injury that eventually led to her moving to Grace Home. The staff and resident’s became like an extended family. Josie’s family and all who knew her enjoyed her sense of humor and she will be greatly missed.
Josie attended Eastside Church of Christ in Turlock, where she and Dave enjoyed many years of fellowship. After her injury she attended Livingston Church of Christ where they made her feel very much at home.
While Dave was alive many enjoyed seeing the two of them taking their daily walks for exercise. She was known for making her special recipe for fruitcake for all her children’s families at Christmas. Josie always enjoyed seeing her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by two sons and their wives, Larry and Connie Friesen, Robert and Pat Friesen, three daughters and their husbands, Janet and Donn Koenig, Judy and Richard Jantz and Beverly and John Worden. She has 16 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind her brother Chester and wife Mary Jantz.
Visitation will be Tuesday December 2, 2014 from 9am to 11am at the Wilson Family Funeral Chapel, 1290 Winton Way, Atwater, California. The service will be held at 11am at Wilson’s Family Funeral Chapel with burial to follow at Winton District Cemetery in Winton, California.
Memorial donations may be made to Grace Home, 13435 W Peach Ave. Livingston, California 95334.
