Kenneth J. Friesen

Kenneth John Friesen, age 72, passed away on Friday January 26^th, 2024.  Kenny was born to Ray and Marcella Friesen on August 29, 1951, in St. Paul MN, and was the youngest of 4 siblings.  Kenny spent his childhood between St. Paul and his Aunt and Uncle’s farm in Welch, MN.   Ken graduated from Cretin High School in 1969.  He went on to work for the Ford Motor Company in Hastings as an auto mechanic and eventually started his own auto repair business out of his home garage near Miesville, MN, where he and his family settled.  Kenny met the love of his life, Paulette, in his late teens and married her in 1975.  They went on to have two children, Keith and Erica.

Kenny loved the outdoors and spent much time with Paulette and the kids hunting, fishing, camping, and watching their favorite hometown baseball team, the Miesville Mudhens.  Kenny also enjoyed tractors and collected and fixed up old Minneapolis Moline tractors for a time.

After Kenny lost Paulette, he moved into Cannon Rivers Senior living home and spent his time coloring and creating, as well as collecting, various pieces of artwork and trinkets which he shared with other residents, staff, family, and friends, and decorated his room with.  He got out and about as much as he could by driving his power wheelchair up to the gas station and the grocery store to buy treats and visit his friends there.

Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Paulette; his parents, Ray and Marcella Friesen; and his brother, Robert Friesen.  He is survived by his children and grandchildren, Keith (Tanya) Friesen of Ellsworth WI and their children Bella, Kira, Maia, Jonah, and Ahna; and Erica (Juno) Nayagam of Cannon Falls and their children Logan, and Caelan Heinlein; sisters Kathleen (Leonard) Puncochar, Dee (Bob) Sehman; sister in-law Elaine (Butch) Lee; and brothers in-law Gene (Bonnie) Friese, Don (Lorraine) Pommerening, and Jim (Kathy) Fick, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

There will be a memorial gathering celebrating Kenny’s life on February 12, 2024, from 4-7:00 pm, at Lundberg Funeral Home, 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd, Cannon Falls, MN 55009.