Wiens, A. F. (1868-1937)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1937 Jan 20 p. 1

Birth date: 1868 Sep 25

text of obituary:

Missionary A. F. Wiens Of Chicago Is Called Away Suddenly By Death.

4215 S. Rockwell St. Chicago, Illinois

Dear Friends:

We mourn today the passing away of our dear father, Rev. A. F. Wiens, pastor of the Mennonite Bible Mission, Chicago, who went to be with Jesus his Lord and Master. He left us in the midst of a busy day Sunday afternoon, January 10, 1937.

After a brief illness in December we thought he was getting stronger. He wanted to serve as long as he had strength. He led the prayer meeting last Wednesday evening in the study of God's Word, Genesis 45. At times we noticed that his steps were slow and he seemed to tire easily. But he like to be busy for the Lord.

Sunday morning, January 10, he led the morning worship in opening prayer. Later he taught the Bible class which he always enjoyed to teach when he was able and well. After Sunday School he said to mother "That surely is a fine class."

After a pleasant dinner with the family and a few friends, father took his usual rest. Later mother wakened him to help him get ready for Men's Meeting in the afternoon. This is a service in the home of one of the men of our church. He said goodbye to mother and I helped him to the car. I noticed his step was slow, and he thanked me lovingly.

Before leaving we saw that father's head began to drop and he was faint. The men carried him into the house to mother. After a short time all was quiet and father had passed on. His spirit was with God. No pain, no struggle.

Father and mother have spent 30 years in Chicago mission work. They were ordained for the Lord's work in Jansen, Nebraska, by the elders of the Mennonite church of the conference of the Defenceless Brethren in Christ of North America in the fall of 1906.

The Lord has blessed the fruit of the labors and we rejoice today in the blessings of the.

Father has labored here 19 years and soul have been won to Christ. A church has been established that we believe will stand. "Upon the rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

He rejoiced in the knowledge that his seven daughters had accepted Christ, that all were in definite Christian work, three of them in the foreign lands.

He leaves to mourn, our beloved mother, his wife, and seven daughters. I shall name them in order with the sons-in-law: John and Catharine Neufeld, Chicago; John and Elizabeth Thiessen, Birra, India; Henry and Mary Toews, Charlesville, Belge Congo; August and Martha Ewert, Hopei, China; Helene, Sarah and Esther, Chicago; one brother, John A. Wiens, Dinuba, Calif.; one sister, Mrs. Aganetha Fast, Ontario, Canada, and 13 grandchildren, many friends and Christian brothers and sisters.

Rev. A. H. Lehman will have charge of the funeral services at the Mennonite Bible Mission.

May God help us to faithfully carry on the work that has been started and which he has entrusted to us. Last winter before Henry and Mary Toews left for Africa we received the definite call for the work here. We were ordained for this ministry on February 23, 1936.

Pray for us and the laborers here that we may be faithful to Christ.

Rev. Wiens was born in Russia September 25, 1868, died at the age of 68 years and 3 months.

Yours in His service, Catherine and John Neufeld.

(Editor's Note: The Review expresses deep sympathy to the bereaved family, with the definite hope and confidence that the work which Rev. Wiens has established will continue to prosper.)