Wiens, John C. (1882-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Dec 27 p. 8

Birth date: 1882

text of obituary:

JOHN C. WIENS

John C. Wiens, son of Jacob and Helena Wiens, was born near Buhler, Kansas, on Dec. 3, 1882, and departed this life to enter his eternal reward on Dec. 5, 1956 at long Beach, Calif. He attained to the age of 74 years and two days.

He grew to manhood in the Buhler-Inman community. In 1902 he went to Oklahoma where he filed on a quarter section of land about 20 miles from hooker, and lived there for four years. Here he realized his lost condition and was converted to Jesus Christ and followed Him in baptism and was received into the fellowship of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church. Elder Cornelius Wall officiated at the baptism.

On July 6, 1909, he was married to Tena Fast near Mountain Lake, Minn. In the fall of the same year they moved to his land in Oklahoma. Here the Lord blessed them with five children, three sons and two daughters.

In 1919 they moved to the Inman, Kansas community and lived there till 1932. On August 1, 1928, his wife, our mother, died which left a great void in our home. In 1932 his daughter, our sister Helen, also died.

In 1934 we moved to California where he had made his home ever since, living in various communities. In 1935 he was married to Mrs. Maria P. Rempel of Mountain Lake, Minn. She passed away in June of 1941. He was married twice since, his fourth wife passing away in June 1906.

He was in poor health during much of his life. On Dec. 5, 1956, he was struck by an automobile while crossing a street and died a few hours later in a hospital in Long Beach. He had been a member of the Revival Center Church of Long Beach for a number of years.

He leaves to mourn his departure four children, John W. F. Wiens of Dinuba, Calif., Rosella, Mrs. Ed Dingey of Crescent City, Calif.; Alvin M. Wiens of Morocco, North Africa, Frank G. Wiens of Reedley, Calif.; eight grandchildren, 40 step-grandchildren; one brother, Jake Wiens, Inman, Kansas; four sisters, Lizzie, Mrs. Herman Ensz of Inman, Kansas, Helen, Mrs. B. D. Ensz of Reedley, Susie, Mrs. P. G. Loewen of Reedley, Miss Tena Wiens of Laned, Kansas; and other relatives and friends. — The Children.