Wiebe, Henry Peter (1898-1980)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1980 Aug 8 p. 31

Birth date: 1898 Sept 29

text of obituary:

HENRY PETER WIEBE

Henry Peter Wiebe of Vineland, Ont passed away June 17. He was born September 29,1898 in Blumenhof, Russia to Peter J. and Anna (Warkentin) Wiebe. In 1916 he accepted Jesus Christ, and was baptized into the Tiege Mennonite Brethren Church in 1923. He met Marie Unrau while working at "Bethanien," a hospital for the mentally ill. They were married October 17, 1926. In 1927 they emigrated to Canada and settled in Kitchener, Ont. Knowledge of their experience with mentally ill people brought requests that they take in and care for such individuals. This they did starting in 1932. In 1937 the Wiebes moved to Campden, Ont where they purchased a farm in order to expand the ministry with the mentally disturbed, naming the large, brick home "Bethesda." The Wiebes served as houseparents of Bethesda Home until 1953. The Vineland MB Church called brother Wiebe to the ministry to which he was ordained in 1940. He served as leader of this church from April, 1938 to January, 1940 and again from October, 1948 to January, 1957. He spent his last years at Tabor Manor. He leaves wife Mary; two sons: Edward and wife Gertrude, Henry and wife Helen; seven grandchildren, one great grand- child and his youngest sister, Anna in Russia.