Wiebe, Isaac (1884-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Aug 13 p. 8

Birth date: 1884 Aug 15

text of obituary:

ISAAC WIEBE

Isaac Wiebe, a son of the late William and Justina Wiebe, was born Aug. 15, 1884, in the vicinity of Mountain Lake, Minn. and went to be with the Lord at 11 a.m., July 17, in the Doctors Memorial hospital, Minneapolis. He attained the age of 74 years, 11 months, and two days.

He grew to manhood in the Mountain Lake vicinity. It was in this community that he received his elementary and three semesters of high school training. He later finished high school in St. Paul.

In the early years of the present century, he taught summer school in the neighborhood of Langdon, N.D. Later he was a traveling book salesman. He traveled all over the Midwest, but never owned an automobile. He entered a business partnership in Omaha, but this failed during the Depression. He later worked as care-taker and did other odd jobs.

Bro. Wiebe sincerely regretted that he lived the early years of his life apart from an intimate fellowship with God. But his humble training at his mother's knee left an indelible impression on him and he surrendered his life to Christ in the South Side Mission under the ministry of missionary A. A. Smith. In that same year, 1922, he was baptized by missionary Smith.

As early as 1939, he became aware of a need for medical assistance. In 1955, he lost control of his upper limbs. Until about three months before his passing, he managed to write letters standing up near the typewriter and punching the keys with his thumb. He wanted to remain in contact with his family and friends. Anyone who received a letter from him should know that it was written with great exertion.

He leaves to mourn, one sister, Mrs. A. A. Klassen, Moutain Lake; three brothers, Abraham W. Wiebe, Bakersfield, Calif.; Claus N. Wiebe, Los Angeles; and George Wiebe, Abbottsford, B.C.; and a half brother, John J. Koehn, Waterford, Calif.