Thieszen, Daniel (1905-1997)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1997 Apr 10 p. 10

Birth date: 1905 Jan 13

Text of obituary:

DANIEL THIESZEN

Daniel Thieszen was born Jan. 13, 1905, at Henderson, Neb., to Aaron and Elizabeth (Peters) Thieszen. He died Feb. 25, 1997, at Henderson.

He was baptized upon his confession of faith and received into Bethesda Mennonite Church on June 1, 1925. He married Marie J. Epp on May 26, 1927.

Daniel expressed his faith by participating in the life of the congregation, the larger church and community. He and Marie taught the beginners Sunday school class at Bethesda for more than 15 years and later taught the same age children in midweek Bible classes. They volunteered at Swan Lake Christian Camp and assisted in the construction of First Mennonite Church in Phoenix, Ariz.

Daniel served on the school board of District 73 East. He was a telephone line man. He was president of the Henderson Telephone Co. when the REA came into the community. He was chairman of the Henderson Hospital building committee, president of the Henderson Hospital board of directors for nine years and secretary for Mennonite Property Aid in Henderson. He was a trustee and deacon for the Bethesda Church.

In 1939, Daniel, his cousin and brother-in-law John J. Thieszen and his brother Abe dug the first two irrigation wells in the community, by hand with a spade.

His family treasures the wood-working projects he made as gifts and the memory of devotions he led.

He is survived by six children, Harold and wife Esther, and Carl and wife Louise, all of North Newton, Kan., Aldon and wife Erna of Holdrege, Neb., Rosella and husband John Schwartz of Marion, S.D., Edna and husband Karmie Galle of Lawrence, Kan., and Marvin and wife Shirley of Lakin, Kan.; 15 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Abe; and a sister, Elizabeth Mierau. He was preceded in death by his wife, two grandchildren, two brothers and a sister.