Thiessen, Henry (1888-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Oct 29 p. 6

Birth date: 1888 Jan 4

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Dec 3 p. 9

text of obituary:

REV. HENRY THIESSEN

Rev. Henry Thiessen, our beloved husband and father, was born on Jan. 4, 1888, near Beatrice, Neb. While still an infant he moved with his parents to Whitewater, Kansas. Here he attended the Emmaus Mennonite church during his youth where he came to know and love his Saviour. He was baptized on June 4, 1906, in the Emmaus Mennonite church by Rev. Gustav Harder.

His early schooling was in the Whitewater community and after completing this he attended Bethel College, Newton, Kansas.

He then went to Meno, Okla., where he taught school for a number of years. During this time he also served as supply pastor for a number of churches.

On June 3, 1917, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Jantz of Lahoma, Okla. With his wife he then went to Nebraska where he spent one year teaching school. In 1921 he moved to Whitewater, Kansas, with his family where he became assistant pastor of the Emmaus Mennonite church. For 16 years while his home was in the Whitewater community he also taught in various local schools.

During most of this time he was also farming. In 1939 he purchased a farm in the Crane Bottoms, six miles northeast of Independence, Kansas, to which he moved with his family in 1940. In the fall of 1946 he moved to Coffeyville, Ks., where he taught at the Ringo school. In 1947 he purchased a home in Fredonia, Kansas, where he became one of the founders of the First Mennonite church of that city and also its pastor. In the fall of 1948 he moved to Columbus, Kansas, where he became pastor of the Mennonite church in that community.

In the spring of 1949, due to failing health, he retired. After retiring he purchased a home in Independence where he lived until he moved to Elbing, Kansas, a few weeks ago to become bookkeeper and substitute teacher at the Berean Academy.

For several years he had suffered from a heart ailment and was confined at times to bed. In the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1953, it pleased the Lord to call him Home. His body was found by his daughter as he did not come from his room at the usual time. He was with the Lord whom he loved and served. Death was attributed to a heart attack.

He was preceded in death by his parents and leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Mrs. Lydia Thiessen; five sons, Alfred, Dan, Waldo, and Edwin of Independence, Kansas, Leo of Greenville, Ohio; two daughters, Mrs. Elfrieda Corie of Independence, Kansas, and Miss Marlene Thiessen of the home; 14 grandchildren; as well as three brothers and two sisters, numerous nephews and nieces, and a host of warm friends.

The following tribute has been prepared by the church board of the First Mennonite church of Fredonia:

“Rev. Henry Thiessen, a member of this church for the past several years, has served the church faithfully and generously in several capacities. never when his services were needed did he fail to find time to work cheerfully and to lead with fidelity. To know him has been to appreciate him. To work with him has always been encouraging and inspiring. The witness of his service will ever by a challenge and a blessing. We believe that each church member shares with us in saying of him, ‘to live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.’”