Obituary of Harold Allyn Friesen

Harold Allyn Friesen was born to Harold F. and Elda Pankratz Friesen on September 16, 1944 in Omaha, Nebraska.In 1954, his family moved to Henderson, Nebraska. He attended Bethesda Mennonite Church and was baptized on May 21, 1961. He graduated from Henderson High School in 1962 and from Wesleyan College in 1966. He married Carolyn Ruth Friesen on July 29, 1966 at Bethesda Mennonite Church. They left shortly after that to go into IW service in Denver, Colorado. He worked in the Admitting Office for 2 ½ years before returning to Lincoln, Nebraska to enter Nursing and Anesthesia School. He graduated in 1974 and got his first and only job at Mary Lanning Hospital In Hastings, Nebraska. They had two children, Christina Suzanne and Nathan Allyn.He worked for Hastings Anesthesiology at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital and at the Hastings Surgical Center until April, 2012 when he retired after a 38 year career. He loved his work and felt he was working for the Lord and always strived to improve his technique, he felt his relationship with God required a sense of love and integrity in all that he did. His first priority was always his patient and what was best for that person. He had a special way with children and thought of different ways to calm them.Allyn was a man defined by his work ethic but blessed with a big heart. He felt deeply even though he pretended to be a "grumpy old man" which caused him to receive many gifts with Smiley faces on them, which he promptly turned upside down. He was a man that would spend hours helping others without expecting anything in return, he was a man that truly gave more than he received.Allyn's dream was to retire in the middle of nowhere, which happened to be on an acreage outside of Peyton, Colorado in a cabin he built with Nathan and Carolyn on weekends. They later added a two story addition to the cabin. His favorite thing was watching the sunrise every morning.He really loved his grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. He had some projects he wanted to do with Devin and Wyatt this summer but ran out of time. He loved hearing from his granddaughters, Reagan and Riley. He spent many hours with Jordan when he was younger doing all kinds of different things. He was surprised to have his great granddaughter, Arien, come and visit him in October.Allyn was a man that was respected, cherished and loved by many people but never knew it due to his humble outlook on life.He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, his daughter Christina and husband, Erin Berlie, his son Nathan and wife, Heidi. Grandsons Jordan Willmes, Devin and Wyatt Berlie: granddaughters Reagan and Riley Friesen and great-granddaughter, Arien Willmes.He was preceded in death by his parents.Memorial Service, 11:00AM, Friday, January 8, 2016, at Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson, Nebraska.Memorials may be given to Bethesda Mennonite Church, Grace UMC, Sunrise UMC and MCC.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Friday, January 8, 2016 11:00AM Bethesda Mennonite Church 930 16th Street Henerson, NE 68371 Phone: 719-328-1793