Siemens, John David (1914-2003)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2003 May 2 p. 27

Birth date: 1914 Oct 15

text of obituary:

JOHN DAVID SIEMENS

bbotsford, B.C died Feb. 15. He was born Oct. 15, 1914 to Peter and Katherine Siemens in Nikopol, Russia. The fam- ily immigrated to Cana- da in 1926. John married Elsie Warkentin Oct. 9, 1943 in Vancouver. In '"---~~_... 1944 they moved to Ab- botsford and began a dairy farm, later adding poultry and raspberry farming. On June 26, 1955 they were baptized by John Stobbe and joined South Abbotsford MB Church. Phil. 1:6 was given to him. John also did seasonal work at Buckerfields in Sumas. He en- joyed gardening, hunting, fishing in the Fraser River and spontaneous family trips to Keremeos, B.C to get fresh fruit. He enjoyed watching his children and later, grandchildren, play in the backyard. In 1986 they sold the farm and retired to Clearbrook. John went for many walks lasting hours. In 1995 a serious gallbladder infection al- most took his life; after that he looked forward to going home . He is mourned by Elsie; sons Den- nis, Gordon, Walt and Sam of Abbotsford; daughters Linda Dyck of Kelowna, B.C, Edna Pe- ters, Kathy Klassen and Rhonda Dueck of Ab- botsford, Helen of Mission B.C and, Rita Houwel- ing of Grande Prairie, Alta.; 30 grandchildren; 14 great-granchildren; 2 brothers . The memorial service was Feb. 22 in Clearbrook MB Church with Heinz Ratzlaff and Walter Wiens ministering.