Thiessen, Gilbert Henry (1924-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Oct 11 p. 5

Birth date: 1924 Jun 29

text of obituary:

. . .

• Gilbert H. Thiessen, 38, formerly of Whitewater and for a number of years a resident of Vancouver, Wash., died in Vancouver last Sunday. The body is being returned here and funeral services are announced for Friday at 2 p.m. in the Emmaus Church near Whitewater with Rev. L. R. Amstutz and Rev. J. J. Regier officiating. Mr. Thiessen was an insurance agent in Vancouver. Survivors include his widow, two daughters seven and five years of age, three sisters and two brothers.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Dec 6 p. 8

text of obituary:

GILBERT H. THIESSEN

Gilbert Henry Thiessen was born to John and Helen Harder Thiessen on June 29, 1924. He grew up and spent his youth in the Whitewater, Kan. community.

With the blessing of a Christian home and a gospel teaching Sunday School and church, Gilbert accepted the Lord as his Saviour as a child and on May 12, 1940 was baptized upon the confession of his faith and was received as a member of the Emmaus Mennonite Church.

He received his high school education at Whitewater High School and Hesston (Kan.) Academy, graduating from the latter in May, 1943.

in 1446 [sic 1946] he attended Grace Bible Institute for one year. Then he entered Whitworth College, Spokane, Wash., where he received his B. A. degree in June, 1954.

His deep concern for others was evident in the joy he found in such ministries as serving with a gospel team at the ElDorado jail, while still in this community, a student pastorate while in college, and serving as director of junior church services at the Calvary Presbyterian Church while living in Portland, Ore.

On Dec. 5, 1952 he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Schmatjen. To this happy union were born two daughters.

Feeling the Lord’s call into service in the business world, he went into selling insurance in March, 1957. He found boundless opportunities to testify for his Lord in word and deed. He was always faithful, putting the heavenly calling above material success.

About five years ago the family moved to Vancouver, Wash. Here they joined the Calvary Baptist Church, of which he was a faithful member at the time of his death.

In March of this year he became ill and for seven months he suffered much pain, but remained faithful to his Lord and a testimony to all who shared his time of illness.

We recognize that the thoughts of our Heavenly Father are beyond our finite thinking and we rest in the words of the Psalmist, “As for God, His way is perfect.”

On Oct. 7, at 6 a.m., the Lord laid his hand upon Gilbert and bid him, “Come home.” He reached the age of 38 years.

Survivors are his wife, Mary Ann, two daughters, Kristi Ann, 7, and Judith Ann, 5; his father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. John Thiessen, Whitewater; three sisters, Lydia, Mrs. Waldo Klaassen, her husband and family of Whitewater; Susan of Tahlequah, Okla.; Dorothy, Mrs. John T. Pratt and her husband of Honolulu, Hawaii; two brothers, Bernard, his wife and family of Miyazaki, Japan and Harold, his wife and family of Whitewater; his father-in-law, John Schmatjen, and many other relatives and friends.

His mother was awaiting his coming, having preceded him in death in 1939. As a family we feel the loss keenly, but for Gilbert this is victory. — The Family.