Obituary for Zelma C. Wall (Friesen)
Zelma C. Wall was born November 13, 1932, in Meade, Kansas to John A. and Elizabeth Claassen Friesen. On March 1, 2023, she peacefully went to her Heavenly home after a long illness. Zem, as she was later called, grew up in a large family and in June 1943, her parents packed up the family of 7 children in their 1940 Ford 2 door sedan and moved to Dallas, Oregon. Two more brothers arrived in Oregon later. Zem’s earlier years were spent helping with her younger siblings and working in the fields picking row crops. She met her future husband, John E. Wall, at the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Dallas. Not only did she meet him in church, but he was her older brother’s best friend. Zelma attended schools in Dallas and her freshman year at Salem Academy. Zelma graduated from Dallas High School in 1950. After graduation, she began working at Dallas Cooperative Warehouse as a bookkeeper.
Zem married John E. Wall on June 22, 1951, and moved to John’s family farm in the Perrydale area. Zem had a green thumb and always planted a large garden which helped supplement the family income. She was also handy with the sewing machine and in the kitchen cooking and baking for her family or helping those in need with a meal when needed. John and Zem raised 5 children on the farm: Patti, Jeff, Deanne, Tom and Nadine. After the children were older, Zem went to work part-time as a bookkeeper for Bob Unger Appliance in Dallas until 1980. After which she was employed at Hollywood Printing Co. in Salem until she retired in 1994. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and she and John attended many school programs, ball games and concerts over the years.
Zelma loved to bake, and pies were her specialty. They were often sought out at church potlucks and holiday dinners. Empty pie plates returned home on a frequent basis, much to her family’s disappointment.
John and Zem moved to Dallas from the farm in 1989 to Greenway Mobile Estates where they resided for 30 years. Failing health necessitated moving into an assisted living residence in 2019 in Salem to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Zelma was a member of the Dallas Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church, now known as Evangelical Bible Church, for many years and was active in choir, children’s programs, and ladies groups.
Zelma was preceded in death by her husband John, parents John A. and Elizabeth Friesen: brothers Harold, Lando, and Dennis, and sisters Lavina and Mariellen; her great-granddaughter Zoey Brown and daughter in law Vicki Wall.
Survivors include her children Patricia Greer (Roger), Thomas (Karen), Nadine Pressley (Ken), all of Salem; Jeffrey of Keizer and Deanne Coursey (Mark) of Redmond; 16 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, with another on the way.
Memorial services will be held at the Evangelical Bible Church in Dallas on Friday, March 17 at 1:30pm. A live stream of the service will be on EBC's website: https://ebcdallas.org/
A family graveside service will be held at Salt Creek Cemetery prior to the memorial celebration.
Memorial donations may be made to EBC church missions fund, Village Missions or Gideons.
The family would like to thank Tierra Rose Center and Bristol Hospice for their kindness. Their care and concern for Zelma is greatly appreciated.
Zem married John E. Wall on June 22, 1951, and moved to John’s family farm in the Perrydale area. Zem had a green thumb and always planted a large garden which helped supplement the family income. She was also handy with the sewing machine and in the kitchen cooking and baking for her family or helping those in need with a meal when needed. John and Zem raised 5 children on the farm: Patti, Jeff, Deanne, Tom and Nadine. After the children were older, Zem went to work part-time as a bookkeeper for Bob Unger Appliance in Dallas until 1980. After which she was employed at Hollywood Printing Co. in Salem until she retired in 1994. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and she and John attended many school programs, ball games and concerts over the years.
Zelma loved to bake, and pies were her specialty. They were often sought out at church potlucks and holiday dinners. Empty pie plates returned home on a frequent basis, much to her family’s disappointment.
John and Zem moved to Dallas from the farm in 1989 to Greenway Mobile Estates where they resided for 30 years. Failing health necessitated moving into an assisted living residence in 2019 in Salem to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Zelma was a member of the Dallas Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church, now known as Evangelical Bible Church, for many years and was active in choir, children’s programs, and ladies groups.
Zelma was preceded in death by her husband John, parents John A. and Elizabeth Friesen: brothers Harold, Lando, and Dennis, and sisters Lavina and Mariellen; her great-granddaughter Zoey Brown and daughter in law Vicki Wall.
Survivors include her children Patricia Greer (Roger), Thomas (Karen), Nadine Pressley (Ken), all of Salem; Jeffrey of Keizer and Deanne Coursey (Mark) of Redmond; 16 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, with another on the way.
Memorial services will be held at the Evangelical Bible Church in Dallas on Friday, March 17 at 1:30pm. A live stream of the service will be on EBC's website: https://ebcdallas.org/
A family graveside service will be held at Salt Creek Cemetery prior to the memorial celebration.
Memorial donations may be made to EBC church missions fund, Village Missions or Gideons.
The family would like to thank Tierra Rose Center and Bristol Hospice for their kindness. Their care and concern for Zelma is greatly appreciated.