Willems, Cornelius C. (1882-1964)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Feb 27 p. 8

Birth date: 1882 May 1

text of obituary:

C. C. WILLEMS

Cornelius C. Willems was born May 1, 1882, in Mountain Lake, Minn. The family moved to Rosthern, Sask. in 1900. Cornelius, the oldest of nine children XXXX up a homestead about 11 miles from home.

At the age of 19, he accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior and was baptized the same year. He married Tena Kroeker on Feb. 3, 1907. After 16 years of farming in Saskatchewan, they decided to move to California, stopping in Washington and Oregon for one year and four months. In 1935 they bought a farm northeast of Reedley where they lived for 17 years. In 1952 they retired and moved to Reedley.

They had 12 children; three died in infancy. They are Cornelius, Elizabeth Bartell, and Mary of Reedley; Annie Bridges of Watsonville; Nickly of Blaine, Wash.; Tina Dahlke of Palmer, Neb.; Leander and Ben of Fresno, and Helen Wichert of Fairview, Okla. There are 21 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; four brothers and four sisters, Jacob of Dinuba, Henry of Abbotsford, B. C., Jack Zimmerman of Dinuba, Henry Zimmerman of Canada; Anna Jantz of British Columbia, Mary Goerzen of Cutler, Calif., Margaret Hert of Fresno and Anna Willems of Dinuba.

Mr. Willems enjoyed good health until two and a half years ago. The Lord gave them grace to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary almost seven years ago.

He went to be with the Lord on Jan.20, 1964, reaching the age of 81 years, eight months and 19 days. The memorial service was held on Jan. 23 in the Mennonite Brethren Church, Reedley, with the pastor, Dan Friesen, officiating. — The Family.