John Friedrich

The family wishes to announce the passing of their beloved husband, brother, and uncle John Friedrich of Santa Ana, California on Saturday, November 23, 2019 in his 92nd year. He passed away peacefully of natural causes at The Groves of Tustin.

John was born on October 24, 1928 in Palotabozsok, Hungary to Balthasar and Eva (nee Wisthaler) Friedrich, John’s family emigrated to Germany in 1947. John married Anna Brobeil on May 16, 1953 in Ulm, Germany just weeks before the family emigrated to Canada, where they stayed until John and Anna emigrated to the United States in 1959, settling in California.

John earned his carpentry trade in Ulm in 1950 and worked in construction his whole career, ultimately running his own general contracting company, Universal Construction. John had a great following of happy customers, who kept him busy well into his seventies and he remained friends with many of them.

John and Anna were members of the Phoenix Club in Anaheim and its ski group for years and spoke fondly of their Mammoth Mountain ski trips. John was adventurous and enjoyed scuba diving and even sky dove around his 75th and 80th birthdays.

John is predeceased by his father, Balthasar (1966), mother Eva (1991), brothers Josef (1995) and Balthasar (2002), sisters Gisela (1990) and Mary (2019).

John is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Anna. Sister, Theresa Kelle, brother George Friedrich and his wife Betty and many nephews and nieces in North America and Europe.

The family welcomes friends and relatives for services at the Waverly Chapel at Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary, 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705, (714) 633-1442, on Wednesday November 27, 2019. Visitation is 10:00 am, funeral is at 12:00 pm, and reception is at 1:00 pm.

In John’s memory, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association payable at www.alz.org or by cheque would be appreciated by the family. Personal condolences and favorite memories can be contributed below.