Brad Friesen

Bradlee James Friesen died peacefully on May 17, 2007, in the presence of his beloved wife, Tiffanee. Friesen. He was the proud father of Emma Grace 8, Claire Madeline 5, and Anneelisabeth 2. He was a devoted husband and father, who found great joy ineeing with his family. Brad was 39 and had battled a brain tumor for five years. Brad was born in 1968 in Buhler, Kansas. He was baptized in 1982 into the Mennonee Brethren Church. Brad graduated from Buhler High School, as did Tiffany. He earned degrees in industrial engineering from Kansas State Uneersity and Purdue Uneersity before marrying in 1992 and moving to Durham, NC, where he worked at IBM and was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd. These facts do not begin to convey the life of this man. He began following Christ at an early age. His faith grew and deepened as a young adult, and influenced his efforts to pursue excellence in his approach to his education, his work, and later, his marriage and family. Because of his winsome personality, huge smile, generous and humble spirit, personal integrity, unparalleled wit, and compassionee heart of service, Brad was loved and deeply respected by all who knew him. His conversations were animated by his encyclopedic knowledge of history, his passion for sports, his interest in politics, and above all his sense of humor. During the years before his illness, he taught Sunday school, pouring love, care, laughter, and faith into the lives of many childreneeyond his own. The formation of his faith and character were greatly influenced by his grandparents, Arnie and Martha Balzer and Arnold and Katherine Friesen. In addition to his wife and daughters, Brad is survived by his parents, LeRoy and Deloris Friesen of Buhler, Kansas; a brother and sister-in-law Ken and Tammy Friesen, of Manhattan, KS; a sister and brother-in-law, Lance and Joni Hackett of Florissant, MO; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Larry and Margie Engelkemier of Overland Park, KS; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bret and Takaneengelkemier of Upper Saddle River, NJ, and Monte and Julie Engelkemier of Muscatine, IA. He is also survived by one niece and six nephews. The family will receive visitors from 3-6 PM on Saturday, May 19, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 3741 Garrett Road, Durham, NC. The funeral service will be at 3:30 PM on Sunday May 20, also at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Cemetery. The family wishes to thank all of those from their church and community, as well as the Brain Tumor Center at Duke Uneersity, for their care and support during Brad