Wiebe, Peter J. (1877-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Aug 14 p. p. 1

Birth date: 1877 Mar 1

text of obituary:

Educator, Minister Called Away in Death

PETER J. WIEBE WAS LEADER IN BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH

Markham, Ontario. — Peter J. Wiebe, minister in the Markham District of the Brethren in Christ church and former leader in educational work of the church in the U. S. and Canada, passed away at Maple, Ontario on June 23. He was 73 years of age.

Funeral services were conducted by Bishop Alvin L. Winger, assisted by Bishop E. J. Swalm, Jesse Steckley, Roy Nigh and Marshall Winger.

Born March 1, 1877, near Hillsboro, Kansas, he was the son of Jacob Wiebe, founder of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren church. His baptism took place at Belle Springs, Kansas in 1898, and he was ordained to the ministry at Upland, Calif. on March 30, 1919.

Following an interest in education which began early in life, he attended schools in Kansas and Pennsylvania, and after teaching school for a time, assisted in the work at Messiah Bible school at Grantham, Pa. He later graduated from LaVerne College and Pomona College in California, and also attended the University of Southern California.

After the death of his first wife, Sarah Dolmer, in 1919, he assisted in the opening of Beulah College (now Upland College) in California and served as its dean for the first five years. He then served as president of Jabbok Bible school, Thomas, Okla. for three years, and later helped to found the Ontario Bible school, now Niagara Christian college, and was its first principal. He was a minister of Rosebanks church in the Waterloo district for 15 years.

Surviving are his second wife, the former Lillian C. Baker, his oldest brother Jacob, and a number of nephews and nieces in Kansas and the Canadian West.