It is with deep sadness that the family of Udo Ernst Friesen announce his peaceful  passing at the Ian Anderson House (hospice) on June 30, 2023.  Udo was 90 years old .

Udo was born in 1933 in Merienwerder, East Prussia, the eldest son to Annemarie and Ernst Friesen.  His happy farm life was forever changed as the second World War caused his mother and five siblings to flee their home and settle into West Germany.  With promises of opportunity in Canada, Udo boarded a boat in 1954 with two dollars in his pocket and a sense of adventure in his soul.  Despite not speaking any French, his life in Canada began as a farm hand in Drummondville, Quebec.  Over the next several years, he moved frequently (Kitchener, Tillsonburg, Northern Ontario) trying his hand at many jobs, before settling at Morris National Inc. in Toronto where he managed a large warehouse for 25 years.

Udo loved dancing and found many opportunities during his 63 year marriage to practice, but his true passion was nature and the great outdoors.  Following many years of weekend camping on an island in Georgian Bay, he built a cottage of his own on Gloucester Pool.  Here, he and his family spent many hours enjoying swimming, boating, card playing, and, of course, his favourite pastime, fishing. Fresh bass or pike was often on the menu!  In his later years, Udo focused his time on gardening, reading and spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.  Udo had a good sense of humour and understood well that hard work, laughter and family were the key ingredients to a happy life.

Udo is survived by his wife of 63 years Hildegard Friesen (Florian), his children Cornelia (Roger Landry) and York (Donna Gillespie),  his seven grandchildren, Amanda (Sara McCallum), Conor, Caitlyn, Jessica, Noah, Riley, and Hunter, his siblings Wolfgang (Erika), Eckhardt (Inge), Peter (Ute) and Hans and many nieces and nephews in Canada and Germany.  He was predeceased by his sister Renate (Ruhland).  We all wish him a peaceful rest and will miss his stories, hugs and sense of humor.

We invite friends and family to a  celebration of life which will take place on Sunday July 9 @ 2:00, at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home.  Address is 64 Lakeshore Rd., W. Oakville, ON, L6K 1E1. 905-844-2600

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Ian Anderson House at https://www.ianandersonhouse.com/donate/ or The Kidney Fountain at https://kidney.ca/Get-Involved/Make-a-Gift/In-Memory-Tribute-Donations