Thiessen, Gerhardt T. (1885-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Apr 24 p. 8

Birth date: 1885 Sep 26

text of obituary:

GERHARDT T. THIESSEN

Gerhardt T. Thiessen, son of Wilhelm and Sara (Thiessen) Thiessen, was born near Jansen, Neb. on Sept. 26, 1885. He passed away at his home in Orange Cove, Calif. at 9:30 on Thursday, April3, 1958, having reached the age of 72 years, six months, and eight days. Death came quickly and unexpectedly even though he had been in failing health for years.

He accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour on July 7, 1905, and was baptized and received into the E. M. B. Church at Litchfield, Neb. by Elder Henry I. Dick the same year. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute and the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, he was ordained to the ministry and missionary work on June16, 1918.

He served the Lord as pastor of the Meade church for two years and later as assistant to the pastor and Bible school teacher for three years. From 1931 to 1932 he served as pastor of a Mennonite church at Dalhart, Texas.

He accepted the Lord's call to foreign missionary service under the China Mennonite Mission Society and served as missionary and teacher for 16 years. After his return he started a mission church in Orange Cove which he pastored for several years until he retired.

He was united in holy wedlock with Agnes Ratzlaff at Jansen, Neb. on Jan. 24, 1915. This union was blessed with three children. He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and three sons: Otto of San Jose, Willie of Reedley, and Ira of Orange Cove, all in California; three daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.

He is also survived by two brothers and five sisters: David Thiessen, Wilhelm Thiessen, Mrs. Lena Flaming, Mrs. Sara Schmidt, and Mrs. Marie Richert of Abbotsford, British Columbia; Mrs. Agnes Warkentin of Dalmeny, Sask.; and Mrs. Susana Dick of Mt. Lake, Minn.

Thus comes to an end a full, rich life that will be long remembered by those who were privileged to know him personally — The Family.