Thiessen, Cornelius Abram (1911-2000)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 2000 Aug 11 p. 28

Birth date: 1911 Aug 31

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS ABRAM THIESSEN

Cornelius Abram Thiessen was born Aug. 31, 1911 to Abram and Aganetha Thiessen in Muntau, Russia. In 1923 he accepted Christ. In 1924 the family immigrated to Kronsgart, Man. In 1925 they moved to the Aikens Farm near Marquette, Man., where he helped his father farm until 1937. In 1934 he was baptized in the Assiniboine River at Belcourt and joined the MB church. He had a great interest in cars and machinery and became an excellent mechanic through reading Popular Mechanics magazine. He married Theresa Penner Oct. 17, 1937. They homesteaded at Newton, Man. for 5 years, then farmed at the Aikens Farm. In 1947 they moved to a dairy farm in British Columbia. He also worked as a mechanic for Finning Tractor and Butchart Motors. Theresa died in 1954, leaving him with 5 children. He married Margaret Pauls June 14, 1955; 2 more sons were born. In 1959 they bought a 40-acre filbert nut farm. He devised new and efficient methods for drying nuts. In 1977 they retired to Sardis, B.C. He loved travelling and visited Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, Europe, Greece, the Holy Land, Russia and Haiti. He worked 5 months on the building of Chilliwack (B.C) Central MB Church and part-time on its expansion. He is remembered for his booming voice, his endless storytelling and his ability as a Mr. Fix-it-all. Predeceased by Theresa, Margaret, son Abram and 2 grandchildren, he is mourned by children Edward of Hagensborg, B.C., Elfrieda Schuender of Vineland, Ont., Lydia of Vernon, B.C., Mary Ann Janicki of Campbell River, B.C., Richard of Sardis and Gordon of White Rock, B.C.; 12 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and 1 brother.