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Thiesen, Peter F. (1891-1930)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 Apr 2 p. 1
Birth date: 1891 Feb 25
text of obituary:
Bodies Found Lifeless Beneath Small Structure They Were Moving
Reedley, Calif., March 28. — A double funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Mennonite brethren Church, for Bernard B. Heinrichs and Peter F. Thiesen, Reedley house movers, who met death Tuesday afternoon, at the ranch of P. C. Eitzen, located seven miles northeast of Reedley and about one-half mile south of Wahtoke Lake.
The men, who were partners in the house moving business, had been engaged by Mr. Eitzen to move a house from the Underwood ranch, located on the Dinuba road, about one mile from Reedley, to Mr. Eitzen's Wahtoke Lake ranch. the house was of a T shape. The main structure had already been moved and placed upon its foundation. The small part of the house, a building about 12x14 feet, was being moved by the men and was within eight feet of the foundation, when their work of moving it would have been finished, when they were caught underneath the small structure and crushed to death.
No one knows the exact details of the tragedy, but as the front of the building was on rollers and the back was not, it is presumed that the men had the house tilted at the back end of it and were intending to put the rollers at the back, when the building slid and caught them.
The lower part of Thiesen's body was under the house and an edge of the building caught him across the waist while Heinrichs was caught in a crouching position farther under the building.
The men were discovered less than two hours after the accident by Miss Mary Duper, who with her parents and their other children, were making arrangements to occupy the house and Mrs. Grace Koalch of Dunuba. They had been at the house at 12:30 p. m. and had left for lunch, returning again at 2:30 p. m. when they discovered that one corner of the house had fallen and had caught the men beneath it.
They walked to a nearby house but found no phone to summon aid and were forced to walk to the Ellis Scoggins ranch to phone for help. Reedley officers and physicians reached the place shortly after 3 p. m. and helped in raising the building. Both men were pronounced dead when extricated.
A coroner's inquest was held Wednesday afternoon. In each case a verdict of accidental death was rendered.
Bernard B. Heinrichs, 52, was a native of Nebraska, and a resident of California and the Reedley district for 11 years. He is survived by his widow, Minnie, and the following children: Ruby, Ervin, Rosella, Bernard, Ruth and Raygene of Reedley. Four brothers, Abe of Shafter, John of Oklahoma, Jake of Bakersfield and Peter of Oregon; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Thomas of Oklahoma and Mrs. Kate Bese of Bakersfield.
Peter F. Thiessen [sic Thiesen], 39, who was killed in the same accident, was a native of Nebraska and a resident of the Reedley district for 22 years. He is survived by his widow, Katherine; four children, Hilda, Leonard, Arthur and Laura, all of Reedley, his parents Mr. and Mrs. Jacob J. Thiessen [sic Thiesen], residing near Reedley; two brothers, Henry P. of Dinuba, and Herman J. of Los Angeles; five sisters, Miss Agnes Thiessen [sic Thiesen], Mrs. Elizabeth Neufeld and Mrs. Helen Peters of Dinuba; Mrs. Katherine Warkentine of Reedley and Mrs. Margaret Dueck of Shafter.
Heinrichs' cousin and former partner, Pete Heinrichs, was killed last spring when he fell from a house which the two men were moving from the L. R. Webb property to the George Jenson property on M. Street.
Another tragic death occurred in the Heinrichs family about two years ago when Alfred, a 10 year-old son, was crushed by heavy timbers in the yard at the family home.
The boy was playing on a pile of the timbers which his father used in his house moving business when one of them became dislodged and crushed the boy beneath it.
Bernard B. Heinrichs was a veteran of the Spanish-American war, having served in the Philippine Islands. He was a man known for his happy disposition. Even at times when he was experiencing adverse conditions, his good humor and smiles were always evident. He was beloved by his family and friends.
Mr. Thiesen was known for his good character. He was a good father and husband. The news of his tragic death was brought to his family and a group of his friends at a birthday party, which was in progress at the home of Rev. and Mrs. J. H. Richert in honor of Mrs. M B. Fast. Mr. Thiessen [sic Thiesen] was to attend the party. News of his tragic death was brought to the gathering.
Peter F. Thiesen was a son of J. J. Thiesen. Last Sunday at a family gathering a group picture was taken. A son of the deceased was to have been operated upon this week. — Reedley Exponent.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 Apr 9 p. 1
text of obituary:
REEDLEY M. B. CHURCH CROWDED AT FUNERAL OF ACCIDENT VICTIMS
Reedley, Calif., April 1. — A double funeral was held Saturday afternoon for B. B. Heinrichs and P. F. Thiesen, who were crushed to death last Tuesday evening, when a house they were moving fell upon them. the funeral was attended by one of the largest crowds in the history of the city. The services were conducted at the Mennonite Brethren Church in Reedley. The attendance was thought to be about 2,500. The church was not large enough to accommodate the large crowd and many stood on the outside during the services.
The services were conducted by Rev. D. C. Eitzen, Rev. J. H. Hiebert, G. B. Huebert and Prof. Lorenz. The cortege of cars to the cemetery was almost two miles in length. The floral offerings were of so large a volume that it required the services of a truck to carry them to the cemetery.
A quartet composed of Mrs. H. H. Martens, Miss Reneta Kroeker, Miss Hulda Eitzen and Mrs. John Schellenberg sang. Another quartet of two male voices and two female voices composed of Arnold Berg, Mr. and Mrs. John Eitzen and Miss Hulda Eitzen also sang. A male chorus made up from the two churches, to which the deceased belonged, rendered selections and a choir composed of members from both churches sang. A male quartet, the members being Messrs. Martens, Harder, Sperling and Nikkels sang appropriate selections.
Both Mr. Heinrichs and Mr. Thiesen were men of the highest character. They were partners in life and it was fitting that their funerals be held at the same time, as they went to their deaths together. The families have the sympathy of the entire community.
Peter F. Thiesen, son of Jacob J. and Katharine Thiesen, was born in Jefferson county, Nebraska, February 25, 1891, died on March 25, 1930, aged 39 years and 1 month. He was united in marriage to Katherine Sodermann on July 9, 1914. To this union were born four children, Hilda, Leonard, Arthur and Laura. Besides his wife and four children he leaves to mourn his sudden departure his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Thiesen, his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Sudermann, two brothers, Henry and Hermann, five sisters, Agnes, Mrs. Arhtur Neufeld, Mrs. H. B. Warkentin; Mrs. Jacob Dick, and Mrs. George Peters.
When quite young he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church in Reedley, Calif.
His lot was cast with those who had to toil and labor very diligently. On the morning of March 25, he left his home as usual, to his work of housemoving. In moving an addition, the same fell on him and his co-laborer, Bro. Heinrichs, crushing and killing them both. This was between 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Our only comfort is the fact that our heavenly Father has all of his children and their ways in His hands, and that some day we shall see each other where sorrow and death can never enter.
He was a faithful husband, a loving father to his children, a kind son to his parents and a friend to his neighbors. — Reedley Exponent.
