Thiessen, Peter (1881-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Dec 31 p. 6

Birth date: 1881 Nov 1

text of obituary:

— Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Emmaus Mennonite church near Whitewater for Peter Thiessen, 78, who died Saturday at the home on Route 1, Whitewater. The services were in charge of Rev. L. R. Amstutz. Born in Russia, Mr. Thiessen came to the Whitewater community at the age of four and had lived there ever since. Surviving are the widow, Katie; five daughters, six sons, two sisters, two brothers, 28 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Among the children are Mrs. Kenneth Frey and Floyd Thiessen of Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Jan 14 p. 8

text of obituary:

PETER THIESSEN

Peter Thiessen was born on Nov. 1, 1881, at Schonau, Russia and in 1883 at the age of one and one-half years came to America with his parents. They settled at Beatrice, Nebr. in 1888, at the age of six and one-half years he came in the company of his parents to Whitewater, Kansas and settled on what is now the Orlando Claassen farm. It is here that he spent his boyhood days.

He joined the Emmaus Mennonite church through baptism by Elder Gustav Harder and remained a lifelong member of this church.

On August 22, 1912, he was united in marriage to Kaete Regier, after which they settled on the place where they continued to live up to the time of his death. This home was blessed with 12 children, one of them, Walter dying of pneumonia at the age of 19 years.

In 1937 Mr. and Mrs. Thiessen were privileged to observe their silver wedding anniversary with a special service in the church and in the home.

Besides his farm work, father served the Emmaus church as custodian for a period of 27 years. He greatly enjoyed this work and was faithful in his duties. In appreciation of his long years of service, the Emmaus church presented him with a plaque inscribed especially in his honor.

He had to undergo extensive surgery two years ago in October and was in the Bethel hospital at Newton for five weeks. He recovered completely and was able to be up and around. He was in church for the last time on Sunday, Dec. 20, 1959. That Sunday afternoon he complained of a pain in his legs and came down with the “flu” but by Tuesday he was feeling better. He had what is thought to have been a stroke or heart attack on Saturday morning, Dec. 26, when he departed this life.

Mr. Thiessen was one of the first song leaders in the Emmaus church and for several years was the church organist. He had a real love for music which is reflected in the family, both children and grandchildren. Father loved to share his reading with the family and would often narrate the things he had read. He was always punctual with the morning and evening devotions, a spiritual influence that remains with us today.

Mourning his departure are: his wife, Kaete, and the following children in the order of their birth, Herbert of Whitewater; Leonard of Dinuba, Calif.; Arnold of Whitewater; Willard of Peabody; Edna of Admire, Kan.; David of Peabody; Wilma and Esther of Cassoday; Selma of Whitewater; Lois and Floyd of Newton. Also mourning his departure are five sons-in-law and six daughters-in-law, 28 grandchildren; one great-grandchild, as well as other relatives and friends.

Father was preceded in death by a son, Walter, and one brother, Rev. Henry Thiessen. The living brothers and sisters mourning his departure are John and Jake of Whitewater, Mrs. Ed Claassen, and Mrs. Alfred Wiebe of Orosi, Calif.

Funeral services were held Dec. 29, at 1:30 p.m. at the Lamb Mortuary in Whitewater, and at the Emmaus Mennonite church at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. L. R. Amstutz, and Rev. Ted Roth officiating. Burial was in the Emmaus Church cemetery.