ELKHART — Chad Jonathon Friesen, 46, of Elkhart, passed away on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, at 5:10 p.m. in Center for Hospice Care, Elkhart, from complications of a lifelong disability.
He was born in Fresno, Calif., on Jan. 4, 1967, to LeRoy G. and Carol F. (Nickel) Friesen.
Surviving Chad are his mother, Carol F. Nickel of Elkhart; his father, LeRoy G. (Sharryl Lindberg) Friesen of South Bend; his sister, Tiffany (Atiba Mbiwan) Friesen of Atlanta; his brother, Todd (Dennette Alwine) Friesen of Lancaster, Pa.; nieces Keisha Mbiwan and Jasmine Friesen; nephews Keenan Mbiwan and Jacob Friesen Grant; as well as two aunts, an uncle and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter and Alvina Nickel and John and Blondina Friesen; an aunt, Twila Nickel; and an uncle, Marlyn Friesen.
Despite Chad's lifelong disability that defied diagnosis, he was a talented and celebrated artist whose work had become known far past the Michiana area. He was devoutly spiritual, and was best able to communicate with his world through his painting. By recording his innermost feelings and thoughts on canvas, his work became not only his diary, but his prayer as well. He was deeply influenced by the time he spent in Jerusalem as a youth in the early 1970s when his parents served there with a Mennonite service organization. He was particularly drawn to the "God's Eyes" that were traditionally painted above the doorways of many of the Muslim homes in Jerusalem, and he came to see these symbols as a reflection of God's all-knowing wisdom and never-ending grace.
In 1991, with the help of the Southside Fellowship Mennonite Church, of which he was a member, "God's Eye Art" was founded as a vehicle to promote and showcase his work. He liked to paint flowers (especially sunflowers), and nature in such a way that they imparted a sacred meaning to the eyes of the beholder. Chad also loved riding horses at Loveway, sailing on Lake Michigan, traveling and dogs. He will be best remembered for his infectious zeal for life and the way it affected everyone who met him, as well as his tenacious and inspiring courage.
Billings Funeral Home
He was born in Fresno, Calif., on Jan. 4, 1967, to LeRoy G. and Carol F. (Nickel) Friesen.
Surviving Chad are his mother, Carol F. Nickel of Elkhart; his father, LeRoy G. (Sharryl Lindberg) Friesen of South Bend; his sister, Tiffany (Atiba Mbiwan) Friesen of Atlanta; his brother, Todd (Dennette Alwine) Friesen of Lancaster, Pa.; nieces Keisha Mbiwan and Jasmine Friesen; nephews Keenan Mbiwan and Jacob Friesen Grant; as well as two aunts, an uncle and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter and Alvina Nickel and John and Blondina Friesen; an aunt, Twila Nickel; and an uncle, Marlyn Friesen.
Despite Chad's lifelong disability that defied diagnosis, he was a talented and celebrated artist whose work had become known far past the Michiana area. He was devoutly spiritual, and was best able to communicate with his world through his painting. By recording his innermost feelings and thoughts on canvas, his work became not only his diary, but his prayer as well. He was deeply influenced by the time he spent in Jerusalem as a youth in the early 1970s when his parents served there with a Mennonite service organization. He was particularly drawn to the "God's Eyes" that were traditionally painted above the doorways of many of the Muslim homes in Jerusalem, and he came to see these symbols as a reflection of God's all-knowing wisdom and never-ending grace.
In 1991, with the help of the Southside Fellowship Mennonite Church, of which he was a member, "God's Eye Art" was founded as a vehicle to promote and showcase his work. He liked to paint flowers (especially sunflowers), and nature in such a way that they imparted a sacred meaning to the eyes of the beholder. Chad also loved riding horses at Loveway, sailing on Lake Michigan, traveling and dogs. He will be best remembered for his infectious zeal for life and the way it affected everyone who met him, as well as his tenacious and inspiring courage.
Billings Funeral Home
ELKHART — Chad Jonathon Friesen, 46, of Elkhart, passed away on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, at 5:10 p.m. in Center for Hospice Care, Elkhart, from complications of a lifelong disability.
He was born in Fresno, Calif., on Jan. 4, 1967, to LeRoy G. and Carol F. (Nickel) Friesen.
Surviving Chad are his mother, Carol F. Nickel of Elkhart; his father, LeRoy G. (Sharryl Lindberg) Friesen of South Bend; his sister, Tiffany (Atiba Mbiwan) Friesen of Atlanta; his brother, Todd (Dennette Alwine) Friesen of Lancaster, Pa.; nieces Keisha Mbiwan and Jasmine Friesen; nephews Keenan Mbiwan and Jacob Friesen Grant; as well as two aunts, an uncle and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter and Alvina Nickel and John and Blondina Friesen; an aunt, Twila Nickel; and an uncle, Marlyn Friesen.
Despite Chad's lifelong disability that defied diagnosis, he was a talented and celebrated artist whose work had become known far past the Michiana area. He was devoutly spiritual, and was best able to communicate with his world through his painting. By recording his innermost feelings and thoughts on canvas, his work became not only his diary, but his prayer as well. He was deeply influenced by the time he spent in Jerusalem as a youth in the early 1970s when his parents served there with a Mennonite service organization. He was particularly drawn to the "God's Eyes" that were traditionally painted above the doorways of many of the Muslim homes in Jerusalem, and he came to see these symbols as a reflection of God's all-knowing wisdom and never-ending grace.
In 1991, with the help of the Southside Fellowship Mennonite Church, of which he was a member, "God's Eye Art" was founded as a vehicle to promote and showcase his work. He liked to paint flowers (especially sunflowers), and nature in such a way that they imparted a sacred meaning to the eyes of the beholder. Chad also loved riding horses at Loveway, sailing on Lake Michigan, traveling and dogs. He will be best remembered for his infectious zeal for life and the way it affected everyone who met him, as well as his tenacious and inspiring courage.
Billings Funeral Home
He was born in Fresno, Calif., on Jan. 4, 1967, to LeRoy G. and Carol F. (Nickel) Friesen.
Surviving Chad are his mother, Carol F. Nickel of Elkhart; his father, LeRoy G. (Sharryl Lindberg) Friesen of South Bend; his sister, Tiffany (Atiba Mbiwan) Friesen of Atlanta; his brother, Todd (Dennette Alwine) Friesen of Lancaster, Pa.; nieces Keisha Mbiwan and Jasmine Friesen; nephews Keenan Mbiwan and Jacob Friesen Grant; as well as two aunts, an uncle and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter and Alvina Nickel and John and Blondina Friesen; an aunt, Twila Nickel; and an uncle, Marlyn Friesen.
Despite Chad's lifelong disability that defied diagnosis, he was a talented and celebrated artist whose work had become known far past the Michiana area. He was devoutly spiritual, and was best able to communicate with his world through his painting. By recording his innermost feelings and thoughts on canvas, his work became not only his diary, but his prayer as well. He was deeply influenced by the time he spent in Jerusalem as a youth in the early 1970s when his parents served there with a Mennonite service organization. He was particularly drawn to the "God's Eyes" that were traditionally painted above the doorways of many of the Muslim homes in Jerusalem, and he came to see these symbols as a reflection of God's all-knowing wisdom and never-ending grace.
In 1991, with the help of the Southside Fellowship Mennonite Church, of which he was a member, "God's Eye Art" was founded as a vehicle to promote and showcase his work. He liked to paint flowers (especially sunflowers), and nature in such a way that they imparted a sacred meaning to the eyes of the beholder. Chad also loved riding horses at Loveway, sailing on Lake Michigan, traveling and dogs. He will be best remembered for his infectious zeal for life and the way it affected everyone who met him, as well as his tenacious and inspiring courage.
Billings Funeral Home
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