Thiessen, Henry A. (1880-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jun 5 p. 8

Birth date: 1880 Mar 18

text of obituary:

HENRY A. THIESSEN

Henry A. Thiessen of 1611 South Ave., Reedley, Calif., son of Aaron and Anna Warkentin Thiessen, was born in Russia on March 18, 1880. he departed from this life May 21, 1958, to be with his Lord and Saviour.

As a lad five years of age he came to this country with his parents. They came first to Kansas and later moved to Oklahoma. Here he accepted Christ as his Saviour and was baptized upon his confession of faith at Cordell, Okla. in 1902.

On Dec. 19, 1905, he was married to Adell Malone at Chickasha, Okla. To this union were born three children — Carl, Bernie and Bernite [sic Bernita]. A year after Bernita's birth, Mother Thiessen passed away. The three children, the oldest only five years old, were then placed in homes of relatives. Father Thiessen sought work in different places and spent a number of years in Chicago, Ill. and Lynden, Wash.

About four and a half years ago he moved to Reedley, Calif. and enjoyed a rather comfortable life. On April 18, 1954, he rededicated his life to Christ and became a member of the First Mennonite Church of Reedley. He attended church services regularly, which became almost his only source of activity.

On May 4 he attended the morning worship service and in the afternoon was affected by a stroke. He was taken to the General Hospital in Fresno where he departed this life. This marks the end of a lonesome life that was filled with many trials. Our hope lies in a fuller life prepared by Jesus Christ.

Surviving his death are three children: Carl of Bellingham, Wash.; Bernie of Pasadena, Calif.; Bernita, Mrs. Abe Pankratz, Reedley; five grandchildren; one sister, Justina, Mrs. Fred Wall of Fairbury, Nebr., and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held in the First Mennonite Church of Reedley. Rev. Aaron J. Epp, the pastor, spoke on Job 14;114, "If a man die, shall he live again?" Roy Reimer served as soloist, with Mrs. Arthur Krehbiel at the organ. Burial was made in the Reedley cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1958 Jun 10 p. 367