In Memory of Rev. Dr. Eugene W. Friesen

Frank Leon
January 8, 2026

The United States Army Chaplain Corps Regimental Association > Blog > Memorial > In Memory of Rev. Dr. Eugene W. Friesen

In sadness, we share the news that Rev. Dr. Eugene W. Friesen, a retired elder in the Desert Southwest Conference, passed away on July 19, 2025.

Rev. Dr. Eugene Friesen was born on a farm outside of Madrid, Nebraska on September 13, 1929. He met Leta Loew at Owosso Bible College in Michigan. They were married on December 21, 1948. Three children were born to this union: Linda Greener (Paul), Robert Friesen (Michael), Edward Friesen (Micki McCorkle). Eugene enjoyed time with his grandchildren and loved watching their personalities develop over the years: Kristina, Michelle (Rebekah), and Justin Berrett; and Phill and Rebecca McCorkle Friesen. He was also very fond of his great-grandchildren: Mary Lou and Michael Berrett.

During Eugene’s career, he served as a military chaplain, clergyperson, and psychologist. He was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, a missionary bush pilot in Suriname, and served congregations in Sunfield, Three Rivers, and St. Johns, all in Michigan. Also in Michigan, Rev. Dr. Friesen was the Director of the Ingham County Mental Health Center. In Arizona, Eugene’s career included being a psychologist in private practice, planting a new United Methodist congregation, and being on staff at St. Francis in the Foothills. Rev. Friesen’s last appointment as a clergy person was as the Associate Pastor at UMC of Green Valley in Green Valley, Arizona. He retired in Green Valley, Arizona in 2000. During his 25 years of retirement, Dr. Friesen gave wholistic psychology lectures on cruise ships for 3 years, which enabled him and his late wife, Leta, to travel to many countries. He and Leta also traveled by airplane to many countries, making new friends all along the way. After Leta’s death on November 30, 2010, Eugene continued to travel. When the travel bug hit Eugene, he invited his children and grandchildren to come along if they could. The entire family is grateful to have many memories of international travel with Eugene. His last international trip was in April of 2025 to Thailand, just a few months before his passing! Grandson, Justin Berrett, was blessed to be on Grandpa’s last journey to Thailand. Eugene was an active Rotarian for more than 40 years, going to Thailand 19 times for friendship exchange and to support the creation of clean water projects for rural areas in Thailand. Eugene also welcomed and hosted Rotarians from Thailand to Arizona on more than one occasion. Eugene sang with the Sons of Orpheus Choir in Tucson, under the direction of Grayson Hirst, for over 25 years, traveling with them to Europe on several occasions. He is survived by one sister, Myrna Enders (Dennis) of Missouri; three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren (all named above). Eugene shared his last gift of the body he no longer needs with Mayo Clinic for medical research.

Eugene served as a local pastor in the West Michigan Conference, appointed to Sunfield UMC in Sunfield, Michigan, from June 1961 to May 1965. He was admitted as a full elder in the West Michigan Conference in 1965 and was appointed to Three Rivers UMC in Three Rivers, Michigan, in May 1965. In May 1966, he was appointed to St. Johns Pilgrim UMC in St. Johns, Michigan. Eugene served as a US Army Chaplain in 1969, then served as the Director of the Ingham County Mental Health Center in 1970 in Lansing, Michigan. In June 1974, he was appointed to the Tucson General Hospital, Tucson, Arizona, as a consulting psychologist in the Pacific Southwest Conference, then began serving at the Tucson Wellness Center, Tucson, Arizona, in January 1982. In January 1984, he was appointed to St Francis of the Foothills UMC in Tucson, Arizona, in the Desert Southwest Conference. He served at the Fountain of Life UMC in Tucson, Arizona, from July 1989 through June 1995, then UMC of Green Valley, Green Valley, Arizona, beginning July 1995 until he retired in March 2000.

Donations can be made for Rotary Water Projects in Thailand or to the UMC of Green Valley. To make a memorial gift or water projects in Thailand, please do so by donating to the Green Valley Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 701, Green Valley, AZ 85622, designating your gift for clean water projects in Thailand.

The first celebration of life for Rev. Dr. Eugene Friesen took place September 13, 2025, 10:30 a.m. at the Burnips United Methodist Church in Burnips, Michigan, where his ashes were laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Leta. The second celebration of Eugene’s life was December 17, 2025, 11:00 a.m., at the United Methodist Church of Green Valley: 300 W. Esperanza Blvd., Green Valley, AZ 85614.

We join our hearts together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort; in sorrow, hope; and in death, resurrection. With gratitude for the life and ministry of Rev. Eugene Friesen, please hold his family and friends in prayer at this time.