Thiessen, Katharina Janzen (1906-1978)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1979 Feb 16 p. 34

Birth date: 1906 Apr 06

text of obituary:

MRS. KATHARINA THIESSEN

(Mrs.) Katharina Thiessen of Leamington, Onto was called to her reward in heaven on December 20. She was born to Peter and Katharina (nee Kroeker) Janzen on April 6, 1906 in Alexanderwohl, southern Russia. On February 19, 1928 she married Peter Driediger in Alexanderwohl, with Abram Teichroeb officiating. The marriage was blessed with three children. Her husband was seized as a political prisoner on September 5, 1941 at the start of the war. She heard nothing about him until 1952, when she was told he had died in a concentration camp soon after his arrest. On September 12, she and the children emigrated to Germany via Poland, and finally arrived safely in Canada. They first settled on Pelee Island and then in the area of Leamington. She married Jakob Thiessen of Vineland on April 8, 1961 in Leamington, with David Derksen officiating. Her second husband died on March 11, 1969. Though she experienced many hardships in her life, including failing health over the last 25 years, she loved the Lord dearly and was active in the Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church.

She leaves to mourn her two daughters, Margaret (Mrs. Henry) Enns of Elm Creek, Man. and Tina (Mrs. John) Bartel of Mersea Township, Ont.; son George and Nelly Driediger of Gosfield South Township, Ont.; six grandchildren; four stepsons and four step daughters and their families of the Thiessen family; and three sisters and their children and grandchildren.