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Leonard FRIESEN Obituary
June 20, 1926 – November 18, 2015
Leonard left this earthly realm on November 18, 2015, at the age of 89. He would be described by all who knew him as a passionate man who embraced life and filled any room with his exuberant personality. Dementia devoured Leonard over the last several years, yet we are left with memories of a man who was not only curious and adventurous, but a natural leader due to his empathy, hard work and charisma. Leonard was a great Alberta cattleman who was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame for his contributions and was well known for his column "Cattle Call" in Alberta Beef. He wrote five books, including one about the Calgary Stockyards called Cows, Cowboys, Cattlemen, and Characters. Leonard was the General Livestock Manager for Burns Canada and then had his own company, "Leonard Friesen Cattle and Properties", for many years. At one time he was President of the Calgary Livestock Exchange, ran ranches at Willow Creek, Alberta, and Kit Carson, Colorado, and judged hundreds of 4H shows. Leonard was a diverse entrepreneur, who in past years operated a hardware store in the Spruce Cliff district; owned a banana plantation in Columbia, South America; ran a food plant in Phoenix, Arizona; and owned and managed rental properties in Calgary. His Christian faith was paramount in his life and he held various leadership roles in Killarney Baptist Church and Evangelical Free Church. Born to Katherine (Klassen) and C.W. Friesen in Beaver Flat, Saskatchewan, the youngest of 13 children, Leonard married the local teacher, Edna Peters. Their 69 year marriage was filled with love and respect for one another and was truly exceptional. They had six children: Leland, Wardlow, Melody, Delight, Graham and Trent. The family home, which was located over the years in Killarney, Glenbrook, Windsor Park, Airdrie and Panorama Hills, was filled with laughter and love, and overflowed with friends and relatives. Leonard is survived by his loving wife Edna, sister Helen Dyck, sons: Ward and Graham (Dalene); daughters: Melody (Bruce) and Dee (Roger) and his daughter-in-law, Lisa. He was predeceased by his sons: Trent (1990) and Leland (2001). Leonard is survived by sixteen grandchildren: Duan, Shane, Ryan, Michelle, Nicholas, Florence, Charlotte, Melissa, Luke, Merisa, Lisa, Christopher, Stephanie, Michael, Hunter and Carson) and twelve great-grandchildren: Keone, Colton, Keland, Levin, Liam, Noah, Bailey, Morgan, Akita, Erianna, Miguel and Afton. He is also survived by cousins and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Grace and Harold Preet for their steadfast devotion to Leonard and Edna, and the staff at Carewest Garrison Green for the care they provided Leonard over the last five years. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 in the Chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home, 1605 – 100 Street S.E., Calgary, AB. To express condolences, please visit: www.mountainviewmemorial.ca.
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20 Entries
Ron Thomas
August 1, 2016
I just learned of Leonard's passing. Our condolences to the Friesen family.
I met Leonard through my dad, Bob Thomas, in Colorado. They did business together but I got to know Leonard as well. I have a great respect for him, not just on a business level but on a personal level as well. He was always upbeat and positive and I enjoyed being in his company.
Till we meet again.
Ron Thomas & family
Ken Cappon
July 26, 2016
It is with sadness that I learned of Mr. Friesen's passing. I grew up with his sons Trent and Graham and learned to respect him as a church elder both in official and unofficial capacities.
His generosity is almost legendary as he opened his home to the youth of the church on a regular basis. Legendary in that not many people could or would provide food and entertainment for 20 to 30 kids at a time and yet he did so frequently and willingly.
He also welcomed church families to his ranch for several summers for the church's annual family camp out. Those were some of the best times we had for those camp outs enjoying the beautiful glen set aside for us and next to a lazy creek perfect for rafting on inner tubes and air mattresses.
It was only later that I learned how influential and respected he was in the southern alberta cattle industry. This I learned when I coincidentally came across one of his books chronicalling the history of the calgary stock yards and even then his writing was very matter of fact. He never made his standing in the cattle community something of importance.
I only learned of his passing when I enquired about him among some of the ranchers participating at this year's stampede. I was not surprised but I am disappointed that I could not express my respect and memories along with all his many friends and family members.
I know that time will be kind to his legacy.
Myrna Koch DeFehr
April 16, 2016
I have such wonderful memories of Leonard and Edna. They were such great friends with generous hospitality (oh that swimming pool was such a great joy for so many including myself! I enjoyed working with Trent in our junior choir (First Free Church). ....was just informed of Leonard's "homecalling". Wishing rich blessings to the family and to Edna awaiting Leonard's heavenly welcome!
Michelle Friesen
December 26, 2015
Rest in peace Grandpa
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Doug Munton
December 8, 2015
My experiences with Leonard were that of a partner with him in a couple of ranches and a board member with him on the EFCC-Pr District Trust Foundation . Leonard was the most likeable individual that I have ever met. He was an entrepreneur for sure with the biggest and most generous heart imaginable . He was kind, amiable , honest , straightforward and a true friend and most important a true man of God. I will always remember the evenings spent at their home on Elbow Drive , with the wake up call " there is light in the swamp Doug , up and at em "
Leonard was a true mentor and I admired and respected him greatly. I thank God for the privilege of being involved with such a Godly man.
Our prayers are with you Edna and family and you can be assured of joining Leonard again in the Heavens beyond . What a joyous day that will be .
Stuart Morison
December 1, 2015
When we ranched at airdrie Leonard was always a great neighbour our friendship was honest and real we had many interesting conversations by the feed bunks. He will be missed by many!
November 28, 2015
Len was a good friend and excellent representative of the cattle industry. I respected his expertise and knowledge and appreciated his Christian example. Bill Snyder, Carstairs.
Dan McKinnon
November 26, 2015
I first met Len at Burns and had many good dealings over the years. He was a great supporter of 4-H and highly respected. I really enjoyed visiting with him and reading his books and stories. Along with many others I will miss him.
Dale Cockx
November 24, 2015
Dear Edna and family
It was Leonard that was instrumental in keeping me solvent back in the the late 1970's, it was Leonard that made sure there was a constant flow of "heiferettes" being fed at my home feed lot to insure that Heather and I had a constant monthly source of revenue to help Heather and I get through a very tough time in the cattle feeding cycle. Leonard Friesen was the best of human kind - he was always giving of himself for the benefit of others. Leonard was a decent. straight shooting, caring man he has enriched my life and will be sadly missed.
Lawrence Duffin
November 24, 2015
Our friendship went back to 1957, as Burns employees in the Livestock Department. Len was one of the finest men I have ever known. He was a pillar in the livestock industry, an entrepreneur, a proud family man, and a man with a wealth of good advise. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Dorothy Edge
November 24, 2015
My deepest sympathy to Edna and Family.
My memories go back some 20 years when I first met Leonard. He had a supreme memory and I sure enjoyed typing his first two history books that he wrote: Calgary Stockyards 1903-1989 - "COWS, COWBOYS, CATTLEMEN,& CHARACTERS" and the "ROUND-UP OF MEMORIES." His other books are in demand too.
Sincerely, Dorothy Edge, Cochrane
John and Jeaan Moore
November 24, 2015
Dear Dalene, Graham and family. We are so sad to hear your news. What a wonderfully full life your Dad/Father- in-law had. We are thinking of you and praying for strength for you too.
Frank & Agnes McInenly
November 24, 2015
Our condolences to Edna and family. Leonard was a great cattle man and friend to all. Happy trails my friend.
Ross and Gloria Emery
November 23, 2015
Our deepest sympathy Dalene and Friesen family,
So sorry to hear of the passing away of your father in law. He sounds like a wonderful man and what precious memories you will have of him! Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May God comfort you and give you peace.
Ross and Gloria
Darrell Stonehouse
November 23, 2015
Very sad to see Leonard's friendly face in the newspaper this weekend. We spent a good amount of time together in the early 1990's when I was editor of Alberta Beef Magazine. Every month he would come to the office with his Cattle Call column scratched out single-spaced on eight or nine pieces of paper. Deciphering it was always a challenge!
I also helped Leonard put out two of his books and got to know him well in that process. He was a prairie boy of the "hold on to the cow's tail and she will pull you through" school, an eternal optimist.
Leonard was great company, a great storyteller and a valued friend.
He will be missed by a lot of people across cattle country
Lorraine Norgard
November 23, 2015
Leonard was such a great man. Friendly, courteous and honorable. He was fun to visit with and taught so many of us many lessons in 4-H and in life. I am proud to say I knew him.
Heartfelt prayers as they say good-bye to a wonderful, upstanding man.
Shirley Pickard
November 22, 2015
Thinking over the past, I remember Leonard Friesen as one of the most capable and dedicated judges in the beef industry. His legacy will include all the young people who learned from him and helped build the beef industry into what it is today. On behalf of the entire Lloyd Pickard family, I extend our heartfelt thoughts to his family and loved ones. Like my father, he believed in building the livestock industry to the best that it could be. Thanks for all you have done.
Rob Smith
November 22, 2015
Growing up, it seemed to me that Leonard Friesen was the greatest judge of beef cattle in the world. He judged EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE, always with grace, skill, fairness and a desire to teach through his evaluation. He adjudicated more than he simply 'placed'. I always looked forward to a show ring or workshop featuring 'Judge' Friesen.
Over the years, our great friends and neighbours, Dave & Irene Morgan, gave me every one of Leonard's books, always personally signed. I have always cherished these volumes and will continue to do so forever.
I Junior Judged under Leonard multiple times in the 1980's and early '90's, and really kind of feel now like an entire era passes on, along with this 'giant' of our beef cattle sector.
Sleep peacefully, Mr. Friesen. Your contribution to your community was vast and your life most influential.
And many thanks to your vast family, of whom I know you were wholly proud and to whom you were entirely dedicated, for sharing you with us all those years.
Roy & Wilma McKay
November 21, 2015
Heartfelt thoughts on the passing of Leonard. Roy and I both remember Leonard from out time at the old stockyards, Roy hauling cattle for Bergen Trucking and myself with the Calgary Livestock Market Journal. Used to go down the hall and visit with everyone at Leonard's office. Remember the happy times and know Leonard is with you always.
Tom Copithorne
November 20, 2015
Rest easy old friend. Condolences to all your family. Tom and Pattie Copithorne
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1605 - 100 Street S.E., Calgary, AB T1X 0L4
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