Thiessen, Abram (1914-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Dec 27 p. 18

Birth date: 1914 Feb 4

text of obituary:

ABRAM THIESSEN

Abram Thiessen passed away Oct. 22. He was born Feb. 4, 1914 to Abraham and Maria Thiessen in Gnadenheim, Russia. The family immigrated to New Hamburg, Ont. in 1926, moving to a farm near Port Rowan, Ont. in 1928. He accepted Christ, was baptized in summer 1937 and joined the MB Church, remaining a member all his life. He enjoyed singing in the male choir. In 1941 he married Helena Unger of Hespeler, Ont. They worked on a fruit farm in Port Dalhousie, Ont. for the summer; then he worked in a woolen mill in Hespeler for 18 months. In April 1943, they bought a farm in Port Rowan. The beginning was hard, but times got easier. He was a good provider, willingly went without to put his family's needs first. He retired from farming in 1974, but they remained in the farmhouse. He and Helena travelled across Canada several times to visit family and friends. Helena died in 1993. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1996, broke his hip in 1997, but was able to return home till his passing. Predeceased by Helena, 3 brothers and 1 sister, he is mourned by children Eleanor Dieterlie of Kitchener, Ont., Margaret Janzen of Waldheim, Sask., Bill of Port Rowan, Anne Hawton of Kitchener, Linda Mepham of Waterloo, Ont., Pauline of Simcoe, Ont. and Don of Kitchener; 13 grandchildren; 2 great-grand-sons; and 1 sister. The funeral was Oct. 28 in Port Rowan MB Church, with Sandy Young, Ralph Teigrob and Tim Thiessen ministering.