Tiessen, Isaac Henry (1904-1999)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 200 Jan 7 p. 24

Birth date: 1904 May 6

ISAAC HENRY TIESSEN

Isaac Henry Tiessen passed away Nov. 28 in St. Catharines, Ont. He was born May 6, 1904 to Heinrich and Elizabeth Thiessen in Krutojarovka, Ukraine. When Isaac was 14, his 3 brothers were murdered during the Russian Revolution. His father's prayers for the salvation of the killers impressed Isaac. The family fled to Friedensruh, Molotschna, Ukraine, where he completed high school. In March 1923 he made his commitment to the Lord based on Rom. 10:9,10 after a revival meeting. He preached his first sermon when there was no preacher at a revival meeting. In 1925 he immigrated to Leamington, Ont. He married Anna Huebert, his girlfriend from Russia, on Nov. 2, 1930. In 1935 he was ordained. He worked for H.J. Heinz for 23 years while pastoring Leamington MB Church. He was moderator of the Ontario MB Conference for 10 years. In 1958 he accepted a pastorate in Chilliwack, B.C. In 1964 he became interim pastor in Kitchener (Ont.) MB Church. He later helped plant a church in Toronto. In 1971 he retired to Strathroy, Ont., where he was chaplain in a number of nursing homes in the London area and pastored Komoka MB Church for a year. He helped develop a large print hymnal "Sing Your Way Home" which has sold 100,000 copies. A moving event of his later years was his role in the MB apology to the Conference Mennonites for MB's harsh treatment of intermarriage. At age 86, he wrote Why I Do Not Take the Sword. He was an avid reader, keeping abreast of religious and secular issues. He loved to travel. He had a passion for gardening, especially fruit trees and melons. In 1998 he moved to Tabor Manor. He firmly believed that Jesus' way was the way of nonviolent love. He is mourned by Anna; sons Otto, John and Eric; daughter Erna Landeen; 10 grandchildren and 2 greatgrandchildren. The funeral was Dec. 4 in Leamington MB Church.