Wiebe, Peter H. (1879-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Apr 5 p. 8

Birth date: 1879 Oct 2

text of obituary:

PETER H. WIEBE

Peter H. Wiebe, our loving husband and father, son of Klass and Anna Harms Wiebe, was born Oct. 2, 1879, at Jansen, Neb. There he spent his childhood days on a farm and also received his elementary education.

On father's 22nd birthday he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and upon his confession of faith was baptized by Rev. Jacob Fast and united with the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church.

On Sept. 5, 1909, he was united in holy matrimony to Lena Ratzlaff near Jansen, Neb. This union, which lasted 46 years, five months and 16 days, was blessed with five children, two daughters and three sons.

They spent the first years on a farm near Jansen. In 1917, they moved to Garden City, Kansas, and settled on a farm near that city. Here they joyfully toiled together for 20 years. In 1937 they moved to Reedley, Calif., where they united with the Mennonite Brethren Church for fellowship.

Father's health was relatively good in all his days. The last six years of his life his eyesight failed but this seemingly never dampened his joyful spirit. He loved the Lord and enjoyed his fellow men. In the last years of his life he had four very special interests in this world; First, his family, then his church, and two special radio broadcasts, "The Haven of Rest" and "Back to the Bible."

About two years ago father submitted to a serious operation from which he seemingly recovered very well. About eight weeks ago he became ill again and four weeks ago submitted to another operation from which he did not fully recover. In these last weeks spent in his home on his sickbed, he was very happy in the Lord, rejoicing in the spiritual visits of his pastors, and expressed a sincere desire to go Home and be with the Lord.

Sunday morning, March 18, 1956, at about 9:00 o'clock our Heavenly Father answered that prayer and took our loved one Home to Glory. Though we sorrow, we rejoice to know that father has gone to be with the Lord and to meet his loved ones who had gone on before. He reached the age of 76 years, five months and 16 days.

Those who mourn his departure are his wife, Mrs. Lena Wiebe of Reedley, Calif.; two daughters, Sara and Helen Wiebe of Reedley; three sons, Clarence and Allen Wiebe of Reedley, and Ervin Wiebe of Fresno; four grandchildren; three daughters-in-law; one sister, Mrs. G. K. Enns of Hillsboro, Kansas; 11 sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law.

Two grandchildren as well as five brothers and one sister preceded him in death.

One of his favorite songs was entitled "Naeher Zum Kreuz." Here at the Cross he kept himself to the very last and is looking forward to the days when we shall meet agian. — The Family.