Niessen, John J. (1897-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Sep 19 p. 8

Birth date: 1897 May 2

text of obituary:

JOHN J. NIESSEN

John J. Niessen, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, was born to Rev. John and Helena Niessen on May 2,1897, on a farm three miles north of Mountain Lake, Minn. Later he moved with his parents to a farm three miles south of Mountain Lake where he with his brothers Isaac and Henry and sister Helen spent the earlier part of his life. He attended the rural school and the Mountain Lake Bible School. As a minister's son he shared the responsibilities to care for the farm so as to give Rev. Niessen ample time to carry on the preaching of the Gospel.

On May 28, 1917, he was baptized on his confession of faith by Elder Jacob Stoesz and joined the First Mennonite church.

On March 24, 1929,he was joined un holy matrimony to Anna Dick. To this union were born two children, DeLoris and Allan, who shared in this union the many joys as well as the sorrows. Several times in his life he was seriously ill but the Lord saw fit to make him well. No matter how dark things seemed to be he always had a way in which to cheer everyone around him.

In 1954 the silver wedding anniversary was observed.

In the past several years he had several ailments but the Lord again saw fit to make him well. Within the last year his strength was steadily diminishing due to a heart condition and he was unable to work. In the many days of sickness he was free to express his love for his Lord. On July 25, 1957, he entered the hospital and on August 5 he was dismissed and spent four weeks completely bedridden at home. In his suffering he never complained in spite of discomfort and pain. He mentioned many times how he longed to go to that sweet resting place committing himself wholly into the hands of his Savior and praying, “Not my will, but thy will be done!”

On Saturday, Sept. 7, he re-entered the hospital but for a short stay and was called home to his Maker Sunday, Sept. 8, at 10:45 p. m. We are thankful to know that he is with the Lord. By his many words, deed, and prayers in the family circle he took his own suffering in stride, praying unselfishly for the Lord to be near his family during this time. Words of comfort were the Twenty-third Psalm, assuring him that the Lord was his shepherd. He reached the age of 60 years, four months and six days.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and two brothers, Isaac and Henry.

He leaves to mourn in his departure his beloved wife Anna; two children, Allan and DeLoris; one son-in-law, Raymond; one grandchild, Curtis Allan; one sister, Helen (Mrs. Henry Olfert), and a multitude of relatives, neighbors and friends.

Funeral services were conducted in the First Mennonite Church of Mountain Lake on Sept. 12, 1957, with Rev. Willard Wiebe officiating and Rev. I. J. Dick assisting. Interment took place in the Mt. Lake Cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1957 Oct 15 p. 655