Obituary of John Arthur Friskey

Friskey, John Arthur "Bud" 91, passed away on February 15, 2015 of natural causes. He was born in Minneapolis on January 10, 1924, the son of Arthur Friskey and Ellen (Tobin) Friskey. He spent his childhood in south Minneapolis and graduated from South High School in 1942. He then went to the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1946 with a degree in political science. During a break from college he spent a summer as a crew member on the ore carrier, J. Pierpont Morgan. This was a memorable and formative time for him. Upon returning to the U, he met Fern Ostrem, the love of his life, and they married in June of 1947. John and Fern were blessed with three daughters, Martha, Marilyn and Maureen. Bud worked for 35 years in marketing at 3M Company in the Government, Industrial Tape, and Packaging Systems divisions. He retired in 1982. Bud was a man of many interests. He loved the Great Lakes, boats, flying, reading, music, photography and travel, but most of all spending time with family and friends. Bud loved to share a good story and his great sense of humor. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He was an active member of Plymouth Congregational Church where he taught 4th grade Sunday School for 32 years, participated in theater and served on various boards. He volunteered for 20 plus years at the Groveland Emergency Food Shelf , which he found particularly satisfying during retirement . Bud is survived by his wife of 67 years, Fern Friskey. and by his daughters, Martha (Ed) Van Hemert, Marilyn Mahmud, and Maureen (Paul) Tanis. He is also survived by his 8 grandchildren, Carrie Van Hemert, Ann (Troy) Allen, Shawn (Sarah) Mahmud, Jeffrey (Amy) Mahmud, Adam Mahmud, Peter (Anna) Tanis, Patrick Tanis and Philip Tanis, and five great grandchildren, Jonah, Josephine and Eloise Mahmud, Faith Allen and Audrey Tanis. He was preceded in death by parents, Arthur and Ellen Friskey, his sister, Dorothy Dolmar & a son-in-law Khalid Mahmud. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22 at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis. Memorials may be directed to Groveland Emergency Food Shelf, c/o Plymouth Congregational Church.