James Friesner, Class of 1994

Posted Jan 15, 2021

Friesner James Obit Pic2

James Friesner ’94 died Dec. 15, 2020. Jim was born on May 3, 1957 in Lancaster OH to James Friesner and the late Bernadine Perez Friesner. He graduated from Newark Senior High in Ohio, class of 1975, Otterbein College in 1994, Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 2000, and McCormick Seminary where he earned his doctorate in 2013.

Jim was ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament on May 7, 2000 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Newark. Pr. Jim was called to lead Lutheran and Episcopal congregations in Tustin, Ludington, Grand Rapids, and Manistee MI. The last parish he served was Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Manistee.

Jim is survived by his wife Norma Jean; daughter, Emily (Joshua) Wellman; son, Carl (Danielle) Friesner; grandchildren, Hannah Nadine, Jarod Ryan, and Nora Clair Wellman, and Ella Pearl Friesner; his father, James Friesner; twin brother, Timothy (Karen) Friesner; sister-in-law, Kitty (Steven) Friesner, Linda (Carl) Keaser and Mary (Roger) Ervin; three nieces; three nephews; and several cousin, most especially, Brenda (Ray) Hart, Ronald (Darlene) Shore, and Melissa (Gregg) Clement. Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Bernadine and his brother, Steven.