Obituaries

Gene, AKA Geno, AKA “Coach” has made his last tenth end play-call. On Friday, October 6, 2023 R. Gene Friesen succumbed to complications arising from esophageal cancer surgery that he underwent in July.

Gene was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Carol Friesen (nee Greggain), his parents Jack and Anne Friesen (nee Carlson) and his sister Gayl. Left behind to remember him are his brother Brad; his two sons Trevor (Charlene) and Sean (Korelye) and his four amazing granddaughters, Hannah, Hailey, Karla and Kali Ann.

Gene spent his formative years on his family's homestead south of Riverhurst, Saskatchewan in a place he affectionately called “The Ooga Booga Hills.” This is where he started to develop the strong work ethic that would carry him through life. His family later moved to the big town of Riverhurst. With “so many” people around him Gene had to develop another skill he became well known for; that of a social butterfly. This is also where he met his future wife and partner for life, Carol.

Gene loved to talk, and he always had time for a good story. He was one of those people who enjoyed public transit rides as they gave him the opportunity to make new friends. An engaging public speaker, he was often pressed into service to be a Master of Ceremonies for weddings and functions. He was as comfortable speaking to a crowded room as he was at the family supper table.

After he convocated from the U of S with a B.Ed. and eventually a B.Sc., Gene and his family settled in the much larger town of Nipawin, Saskatchewan where he taught high school math and chemistry. During the school year he often drove school-bus, while his summers were spent working construction. When the new high school opened in Nipawin he turned his eye to coaching. First it was softball. Then football. Then somebody asked him to coach the high school boys curling team. In those days, the coach was primarily a driver and a chaperone. Gene really knew nothing about the game and that frustrated him. He took his well-crafted work ethic and applied it to learning everything he could about the game. You could say it panned out.

Within a few years he was coaching provincial curling champions at the junior and eventually senior levels. And then national competitors. And then Olympic competitors. And then Olympic medalists. To list his accolades and accomplishments in advancing the sport of curling in Canada and abroad, this obit would need several pages. He was justifiably proud of the time he spent as Technical Coordinator for Curl Canada, providing instruction for generations of curlers. Suffice it to say, he loved the game, he loved coaching, he loved the players, and he was damn good at it.

You do not get to that level in sport without possessing a fierce competitive streak. With Gene, cribbage was cut-throat. Rummy was a blood sport. Sudoku puzzles were enemies that had to be logically beaten into submission. In his final days he would often say that he had beat cancer and it was just the operation that was giving him a tough time. Gene loved doing jigsaw puzzles and even that relaxing pastime became competitive as he would make a great show of finding the piece that everyone was searching for.

Gene’s work ethic made it hard for him to sit still so he collected hobbies to fill his time. Calligraphy, computers, woodturning, construction, fishing, vacationing in Maui, hunting, golf, and gardening were just some of his diversions over the years. Gene and Carol were serial renovators; constantly updating and renovating their house, cabin, or yard. The only time he really slowed down was to watch his Blue Jays or Roughriders or, quelle surprise, curling.

After Gene retired from teaching, he took up a second (third?) career as a full-time crop hail adjuster; a side-hustle he picked up while he was still teaching. He was fascinated with being on the road, mentoring new hail adjustors and meeting new people.

Sadly, Gene was forced to slow down as the effects of Alzheimer's disease started to take hold later in life. Even with that horrible disease and the cancer that later led to his demise, Gene still enjoyed good company and friendly conversation. The steady stream of people that visited him after his cancer surgery was a great comfort to him and he was able to smile and laugh, right up until the end.

As per Gene’s wishes there will be no service. A drop in Celebration of Life will be held at the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. to TBD. Put on your best curling jacket and bring a positive attitude, low expectations, and maybe a funny story from your time with Geno. If you cannot think of a funny story, just do what he would do and make one up. If you could find it in your ability to donate to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, we are sure that would be something he would have appreciated.

As a husband, a father, a grandfather, a teacher, a coach, and a mentor, he had a profound impact on so many. He was loved and he will be missed.