Tessman, Henry (1913-1979)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1979 Mar 30 p. 30

Birth date: 1913 Mar 16

text of obituary:

HENRY TESSMAN, JR.

Henry Tessman, Jr. of Chilliwack, B.C. departed this earthly life on March 4. He was born to Henry and Pauline Tessman on March 16, 1913 in Alexanderpol, Russia. When he was 16, his family left Russia for Germany, and several months later, in March 1930, they immigrated to Manitoba. In Manitou in 1934, he was baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ by Rev. Henry Goossen and received into the Mennonite Brethren Church. He married Helen Fast on June 30, 1935. The couple left Manitoba in September 1936 for Yarrow, B.C. He worked as a truck driver for 12 years, managed a farm for three years, then worked for a construction company for 15 years, and finally worked in a food processing plant. The family moved to Chilliwack in 1953 and joined the Broadway Mennonite Brethren congregation. They greatly enjoyed life in the church. In 1970 Henry became ill.

He is remembered by his family and friends as a friendly, active, optimistic man, loving children and helping friends. Surviving his passing are his wife Helen; his daughter Linda and husband Mike Jardine, and their children Jason and Trisha; parents Henry and Pauline Tessman of Abbotsford, B.C.; and sisters Nellie (Mrs. Isaac) Wiebe and Agatha (Mrs. Jake) Fast.