Wiebe, William (1912-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2001 Jun 8 p. 20

Birth date: 1912 May 14

text of obituary:

WILLIAM WIEBE

William Wiebe of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Mar. 12. He was born May 14, 1912 to Johan and Anna Wiebe in Millerovo, Russia. When William was 7, his father died of typhus. In 1925 the family (mother and 3 children) immigrated to Manitoba. Later they moved to Kronsgart, where his mother married John B. Friesen in 1926. William accepted Christ at 19, was baptized July 12, 1931 and joined the MB church. He spent the next 15 years working on various farms before moving to British Columbia. He married Gertrude Peters in Kronsgart Sept. 10, 1939. He worked on afarm in Richmond, B.C. milking 30 cows. They then moved to Clearbrook, B.C., where he began a poultry farm. In the late 1940s, he also drove a sawdust truck and worked in the hop yards. He drove school bus for 25 years. In the 1960s, he worked for a parcel service. He drove a bus carrying adults with disabilities to Wildwood School. The family made trips to Manitoba to visit friends and enjoyed picnics in Sumas. He enjoyed fishing with his sons and grandsons. He was a charter member of Clearbrook MB Church, and for a while services were held at their home. He was an usher till 1995. He was a prayer warrior and was not ashamed to share his faith with others. He prayed daily for his children and grandchildren, especially for their salvation. He loved music and enjoyed singing hymns. He had a great sense of humour. He had several strokes and spent his last years in Menno Hospital. He is mourned by Trudy; children Betty Schmidt, Ed, Harry and Richard; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters and 1 brother. The memorial service was held Mar. 17 in Clearbrook MB Church, with Jay Neufeld ministering.