Thiessen, John N. (1894-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Oct 15 p. 8

Birth date: 1894 Apr 21

text of obituary:

JOHN N. THIESSEN

John N. Thiessen, the son of Peter and Agnes (nee Nickel) Thiessen, was born in Mt. Lake, Minn. on April 21, 1894 and departed this life to be with his Savior and Lord Tuesday noon, Sept. 8, 1959. He attained the age of 65 years, five months and 17 days.

He grew up in the Mt. Lake community, receiving his few years of elementary schooling there. He had a happy childhood with his parents on the farm up till his ninth year, when his father was taken from the family. He missed his father very much and extra burdens were placed upon his young life.

At the age of 18 years he realized his lost condition under the Spirit-anointed preaching of Rev. G. P. Schultz. He followed his Savior in baptism the same year and for fellowship joined the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren church of Mt. Lake.

At a conference in 1925 at Jansen, Neb. he met Helena Rempel. Two years later, on Dec. 18, 1927, we were united in the bonds of holy wedlock at Jansen.

We made our first home with his mother in Mt. Lake, since he was taking care of her farm. The next year we moved to Ogallala, Neb. where he followed the occupation of a plumber and also did some farming. Here in Nebraska our oldest daughter Matilda was born.

In June 1931 we moved to Reedley, Calif. community where he worked at various occupations. Here our youngest daughter Marion was born.

We will remember him as a kind and loving husband and father who was deeply concerned not only for our temporal well being but much more for our spiritual health and growth. We will remember how he loved to read the Bible and pray with us. He loved his Savior and Lord deeply and was active in the church wherever we lived. He taught Sunday school and has served as a trustee member and treasurer. He helped found and organize the E.M.B. church in Reedley.

He enjoyed fairly good health most of his life. He was a strong man and hard worker until his last illness. He began feeling weak in June and in the beginning of July he was taken to the Reedley hospital for a week. After a week at home he had to be moved to the Fresno Community hospital where he remained until his home going six weeks later. The doctors diagnosed his ailment as a virus infection that moved from place to place in his body. He suffered a great deal of pain and discomfort which he took without complaining.

He was conscious to the end and left a wonderful testimony of God's grace. He prayed much while in the hospital. One of his last concerns was for an unsaved fellow worker to whom he sent greetings, admonishing him to follow Christ.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, Helena Thiessen of Reedley; two daughters, Mrs. Ernest V. Heinrichs of Fresno, Calif. and Mrs. Ray G. Harder of Wasco, Calif.; five grandchildren; two sons-in-law; two brothers, Peter N. Thiessen of Nampa, Idaho and Jacob N. Thiessen of Dallas, Oregon, and many relatives and friends. — The Bereaved Family.