Wiebe, Henry J. (1888-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Nov 11 p. 11

Birth date: 1888 May 23

text of obituary:

HENRY J. WIEBE

Henry J. Wiebe was born on May 23, 1888 to Peter and Anna Janzen Wiebe in Turkistan, Russia. In 1892, at the age of four, he came with his parents to Hillsboro, Kan.

In 1897 the family moved to Oklahoma, homesteading near Corn. Here he was saved and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church. To this congregation he remained a faithful member to the end of his earthly life.

In 1907 the family moved to Nolan, Mich. where his father passed away. In 1912 he came with his mother and sisters to Reecdley, Calif. At the call of World War I he entered the army as a noncombatant, and received an honorable discharge in 1919. After his discharge he attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. In 1924 he was employed by the United States Government serving as letter carrier in Los Angeles for 26 years.

He was united in marriage to Lydia Hodel on Nov. 18, 1934. After his retirement from the Postal Service they moved to the Rosedale community and later to Bakersfield where he completed his early life on Aug. 7 at the Mercy Hospital.

Bro. Wiebe was an ardent student of the Bible, taught Sunday School and Bible classes, and was active in promoting church music. During his busy life he suffered much and was confined to hospitals in various places. We think of him as a suffering saint.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife Lydia; son Roland and wife Judy; two grandsons, Jeffery and Jason; one sister, Bertha Lomholdt; many relatives and friends.