Wiebe, John D. (1876-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 3 Dec 1959 p. 8

Birth date: 1876 May 13

text of obituary:

JOHN D. WIEBE

Our father, John D. Wiebe, son of Jacob and Marie Entz Wiebe, was born May 13, 1876, near Marienburg, West Prussia, Germany. When he was 14 years of age, his father and mother with their eleven children migrated to America for the sake of religious freedom.

Although father made his living at farming, at heart he was a student. Throughout his life, good books were his delight. His Bible and his old hymn book were his best companions to the very end.

From early childhood, he was deeply interested in spiritual matters and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. The thorough and sincere Bible catechism teachings under the leadership of Elder Leonard Sudermann were very precious to him. In 1893 he was baptized upon confession of faith and became affiliated with the Emmaus Mennonite church of which he remained a faithful member for the remainder of his life.

On Oct. 10, 1901 he was united in marriage to Helena Claassen. Father and mother built their first home on the unbroken prairie, one and one-half miles south of Whitewater. Two sons and three daughters were born to this union. The death of their eldest son, Adolf, at the age of three years was a grave experience for our young parents. In 1912 they moved to Whitewater but continued farming.

On Oct. 10, 1951, our parents were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

On Dec. 24, 1951, we were saddened by the passing of our dear mother. Even though very lonely, with frequent visits by his children, father preferred to stay alone in Whitewater for some time as he was still interested in his church, his farm and some livestock. Serious loss of sight and hearing, as well as advancing age made him more and more willing to leave his friends and old home in Whitewater and go to live with his daughter Frieda in Wichita. Here he soon found new interest in his daily walks to the city library. For the last several years when he lived near the school where Frieda teaches, he found it interesting to watch the children going to and from school, and greatly enjoyed the visits and attentions these little people paid him. With joy, he often spoke of the friendliness and kindness extended him by the people of his new neighborhood.

For many years he taught a Sunday School class with great interest. All his life father was greatly concerned about the spiritual welfare of his family. Although it pained him deeply to be separated by extreme distance from one of his children, still it gave him much inner joy when his daughter Paula consecrated her life as a missionary to Latin America.

For the last several weeks it was evident that he was gradually becoming weaker. Although he rallied and had some very good days during the last week, he often remarked that it was time for him to be on his way. Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7, 1959, while in a coma, he quietly and peacefully went home to be with his Lord. He attained the age of 83 years and six months.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his children, Rev. and Mrs. Ernest A. Wiebe of Independence, Kan., Frieda Wiebe of Wichita, Paula Wiebe of Uruguay, S. A., and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. L. Busenitz of Whitewater; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Herman A. Wiebe, and Rev. Alfred Wiebe of Orasi, Calif.