George Friesen was born on April 6, 1959 at Willows, California. He was the third of six children born to George and Mary Fricke Friesen. He spent his first twelve years in California before the family moved to Wisconsin in 1971. He later moved to Perkins County.

George was married to Yolanda Goertzen on March 8, 1981 at the Golden Plains Mennonite Church west of Madrid. They made their home in Madrid where George farmed and transported farm commodities and other products by his truck. George was hauling harvested popcorn Friday, October 28. He was on Highway 83 near Wellfleet when he suffered an apparent heart attack. He was able to ease the truck off to the right side of the road and coasted it into a field of C.R.P. He died at the scene at the age of 52.

He is survived by his wife Yolanda; two sons - Lane (Joni) and Nolan, all of Madrid; three daughters - Sonya and Mindy Friesen of Madrid and Merilee (Darin) Fast of Iroquois, South Dakota; two granddaughters - MiKayla and Kortnee Fast; his mother - Mary of Montezuma, Kansas; two brothers - Carl (Gail) Friesen of Cumberland, Wisconsin, Merle (Rosanna) Friesen of Grant; three sisters -Charlotte (Richard) Wiebe of Durham, Kansas, Judy (Harlan) Penner of Barron, Wisconsin, and Joyce (Don) Wenger of Cumberland; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 31, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Golden Plains Mennonite Church with ministers, Shawn Becker, Rod Frank, and Stan Unruh, officiating. Burial was in the Madrid Cemetery. A memorial has been established.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.