Obituary of Ed Fries

Ed passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, December 5th, 2019 at the age of 84 years.

Ed was born on the family farm in April 19, 1935, second son of John and Amelia (Molly) Fries.  He took all of his schooling in Duval, right up to Grade 11 (Duval didn’t offer grade 12).  His favourite subject was math, so he took accounting by correspondence.  His love of math was very evident as he was active in the local snow plow club and Lutheran Church Board as Treasurer.  He also joined the Board of the Credit Union in both Strasbourg and Govan, respectively.

When his dad became ill and passed away in 1960 Ed took over the farming operations of mixed farming.  Over the years he acquired more land farming 5 quarter sections in total.

He had fond memories of his days raising cattle. He sold the cattle in 1975 and concentrated on what he truly loved-grain farming.

Ed met Rose, the love of his life on Dec. 31, 1979 at the New Year’s Eve dance in Duval.

Little did he know that before the clock struck 12 and 1980 began, attending that dance would change his life forever. 

The mere fact that she was a widow with 5 children didn’t seem to faze Ed or scare him off.  It was clear that he had found what he was looking for despite the “extras” that were part and parcel of the deal! As their love grew, Ed knew he could not be without Rose and they were married Dec. 27, 1980. 

 After he and Rose were married, she quickly became his right-hand man and helped him in all areas of farming as she could, even becoming his grain truck driver. In May of 1992 there was a fire at the farm which destroyed the shop, all of its contents and his truck.  Luckily no one was hurt, but that along with his ongoing knee problems precipitated his decision to rent out the land.  For a few years Ed loved to help his renters when they needed it. In 2011 he sold the farm and they relocated to the city where medical help was readily available.

He loved and welcomed every new addition as the family grew-daughters in law, sons in law and especially the grandchildren.  Ed clearly loved spending time with all of them-the grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren were a delight to him. 

Ed enjoyed visiting, socializing, and playing cards.  He was a member of the Duval Men’s Bridge Club for several years.  He and Rose enjoyed playing cards with many friends and have very fond memories of these good times together. Ed made friends wherever he went.  Moving to Regina was no different.  It wasn’t long after they moved that he and his new friends became the “coffee shop regulars”.  They soon included Rose and very quickly there was a regular routine of what day to go where and who to have coffee with.  He was like a magnet attracting good friends and good company. 

Ed was a very honest man-true to his word.  He’d short himself rather than take advantage of someone.  He seldom complained, but was always thinking. 

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Rose; her children Laureen Krieger, George (Therese) Nemeth, Linda (Greg) Gessner, Anita (John) Meagher, Grant (Suzzanne) Nemeth; grandchildren Jason (Regan) Krieger, Angela Krieger, Elizabeth (Efstratios) Perentes, Emily Nemeth, Jennifer (Tyler) Holowaty, Kayla Gessner, Fiona Meagher, Benjamin Meagher,  Calum Meagher, Aislinn Meagher; great grandchildren James and Riley Krieger, Everett and Kalina Holowaty; brothers Walter (Jackie), Gorden (Roni); brother in law Dennis Kelln and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Ed was predeceased by his parents, John and Molly Fries; brother Reinholdt; sister Gladys; Son in law Wayne Krieger and several cousins, aunts and uncles. 

Celebration of Ed’s life will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, December 13, 2019 at Holy Family Parish, 1021 McCarthy Blvd N., Regina, SK.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ed’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Alzheimer’s Society.