Wieler, John (1927-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2003 Feb 7 p. 21

Birth date: 1927 Jul 20

text of obituary:

JOHN WIELER

John Wieler passed away Dec. 10. He was born Sept. 19, 1927 to Julius and Anna Wieler in Markowka, Russia. When he was 2, the family immigrated to Lichtfelde, Chaco, Paraguay. The first years were very hard. In 1936 his mother died. His father married Maria Wohlgemut, a widow with 1 daughter; they had 2 daughters together. His father died in 1940. John worked hard all his life. In 1953 he bought his own farm in Lichtfelde. He married Kaethe Sept. 18, 1954. At an evangelistic meeting with G. Neufeld, he gave his heart to the Lord. In November 1961 he was baptized and joined the MB church in Filadelfia. They moved to Blumental. He helped out in the village and taught Sunday school after the Blumental church was started. He loved to work on his farm, but after several crop failures they immigrated to Ontario in 1969. He worked in construction, then at Port Weller Dry Docks 1972-92. On a visit to B.C. in 1992, he suffered a heart attack from which he didn't fully recover. He endured much pain, and at the end wished to go home. He spent much time in prayer for his children, grandchildren and the church. Predeceased by his twin brother, 2 small siblings in Russia and a brother and 4 sisters in Paraguay, he is mourned by Kaethe; children Gisela Teske, Marga, Esther, Bert, Monica, and Rudy; 11 grandchildren; 3 brothers and 1 sister. The funeral was Dec. 10 at Scott St. MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont., with John Epp and Patrick Bartley ministering.