Dr. Dale Wesley Friesen

Funeral Services for Dr. Dale Wesley Friesen, 71 of Lawrence, KS will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence, KS. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. He passed away following a brief illness on June 26, 2018 surrounded by his family.

Dale was born March 12, 1947 in American Falls, Idaho, the son of Wilmer and Ellen (Wedel) Friesen, where he was raised on a potato & dairy farm. He was a 1965 graduate of American Falls High school and in 2005, he was inducted into the Heritage Club Hall of Fame by the American Falls Education Foundation as a distinguished alumnus. In 1965 he left the farm and attended Bethel College in North Newton, KS where he completed his undergraduate studies in biology. He completed medical school and his anesthesiology residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1976.

Dale and Connie were married in 1969 and moved to Lawrence, KS in 1976 where they raised their 2 sons. Dale was the founding partner of Lawrence Anesthesia, PA and the first Board Certified MD in Anesthesia in Lawrence, KS. He worked as an Anesthesiologist at Lawrence Memorial Hospital for 39 years, retiring in 2015. Dale was well known for his raging love of Kansas basketball and football, attending most every game for the past 40 years. He adored his wife Connie of 49 years and his two sons. Spending time with and boasting about his four grandchildren brought Dale incredible joy.
Dale’s survivors include, his wife, Connie, sons, Jeff (Amy) and Ryan (Hope) Friesen, four grandchildren, Nathan (17), Hattie (16), Madeline (15), Brynn (13), sister, Margie Chartrand, and step-mother, Laura Friesen.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial Contributions may be made in his name to LMH Endowment Association or KU Endowment Association and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

16 Condolences

  1. Sheilah Longhofer on June 27, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    Connie, Wayne and I are so sorry to hear of your loss! We are praying for you and your family . We would like to come to the funeral but are leaving on vacation. You will be in our prayers & thoughts!

    Our love, Wayne & Sheilah Longhofer



  2. Mary Louise Wedel Ruef on June 27, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    Connie and family – sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you.



  3. Steve Jones on June 28, 2018 at 11:20 am

    Connie and family, Mary and I are thinking of you and send our prayers.



  4. Alison Carter on June 28, 2018 at 7:40 pm

    Connie, Thinking of you and your family during this sad time. So sorry for your loss.



  5. Florence H Lane (Cookie Hylton) on June 28, 2018 at 8:08 pm

    Connie and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss!! I will be praying for your family



  6. Bonnie & John McDermid on June 29, 2018 at 9:24 am

    John and I wish we could be there with you. We know that Deb and Roger will take good care of you as will Jeff and Ryan. Our hearts are breaking as we know yours are too.
    With all our love, Bonnie & John and family.



  7. JACKIE FOLEY on June 29, 2018 at 11:24 am

    Connie, I was so sad to hear about Dale. My heart is breaking for you. I will be praying for you and your family. I’m sorry I will not be able to come to the funeral as I am leaving town. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers!

    Love, Jackie



  8. Jim Otten on June 29, 2018 at 11:56 am

    Dear Connie, we will all miss Dale and his very gentle demeanor and kind spirit. Vickie and I have you and Dale in our prayers so you both may find peace and love and gratitude for a life well lived.



  9. Marianne Harper on June 30, 2018 at 10:23 am

    Connie, so sorry to hear about Dale. You & your family are in my thoughts.
    Marianne Peters Harper



  10. Dorothy Wiebe-Johnson on June 30, 2018 at 11:53 am

    Connie and family, so sorry about your loss. May you be comforted.
    Dorothy Wiebe-Johnson



  11. Sheryl Henry on July 1, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Connie and family, I am so sorry for your loss. I am thinking of you and your adjustment in the coming days.



  12. Doreen (Huse) Hawes on July 2, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    Doreen (Huse) Hawes
    I want you to know I am praying for you and your family. May God give you peace and strength as you go through this most difficult time. I remember the great lunch we had at the Friesen reunion in Kansas-I will miss my cousin!
    Love, Doreen



  13. F. Ward on July 3, 2018 at 5:13 am

    “May the God of all comfort be with you all as you mourn the loss of Mr. Friesen, I pray you are strengthened by His love as He sustains you through this difficult time, Psalm 34:18. He offers the hope a resurrection of those now resting in death at, John 5:28,29, and Revelation 21:4. I pray your meditation on these passages brings solace to your hearts as they have me in my times of loss.”



  14. Merle Friesen on July 4, 2018 at 10:02 am

    We were deeply saddened by Dales passing. We have been keeping you all in our daily prayers. May His comfort, peace and love surround you all during this time of of grieving and adjustment.
    Love Merle & Marsha



  15. Jerry Levy on July 5, 2018 at 11:12 am

    Saddened to hear about Dale. Had many good times with him on the golf course. He was really one of the “good guys”.



  16. Lmh nurse on December 17, 2018 at 4:09 am

    I was very sad to hear of Dr Friesen passing. I know this is late and I apologize I thought maybe I had left a condolence already – but he was a good doctor. I remember very clearly one night him helping a woman who was in labor and it was an emergency. He worked quickly and I could tell how much he cared and loved his patients. He saved many lives throughout the years I am sorry for your loss.



Leave a Condolence