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Wiens, John G. (1874-1951)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Jan 18 p. 1
Birth date: 1874
text of obituary:
Leader in M. B. Church Died at Winkler, Man.
J. G. WIENS, 76, WAS MISSIONARY, EDUCATOR PASTOR AND BUSINESSMAN
Winkler, Man. — Funeral services were held in the Mennonite Brethren church here Saturday afternoon, Jan. 6, for Rev. John G. Wiens, 76, who had died in Bethel hospital Tuesday night.
Then {sic] deceased was born at Steinthal in southern Russia in 1874 an [sic] in 1896 married Helene Hildebrand, who with an only son, John and 4 grandchildren survive him.
In preparation for his chosen life's work of a missionary, he attended Orloff Central School and the Baptist Theological Seminary, Hamburg. Upon graduation from the later [sic] in 1903, he was ordained a minister of the M.B. church and then spent the following six years as a missionary to the Telegus of India, returning to Europe in 1910 due to the illness of anonly [sic] daughter.
Thereafter he engaged in extensive farming operations until 1918 when he assisted in the organization of the Tschongraun Bible School which he headed until 1924. During this time he also served his Crimean congregation as pastor which post he left in 1926 as a fugitive from Communism.
Arriving in Winkler that year, he at once resumed his chosen work by joining the Bible School staff here. in this labor of love for his master he travelled widely, filled many speaking engagements, wrote extensively, and was the "poet-laureate for numerous special church and school functions. He resigned from the principalship of the Bible school here in 1949.
Alongside all his clerical duties he nevertheless found time to operate a thriving car and implement business and an oil agency.
Rev. G. D. Pries, local M.B. church pastor, was in charge of the funeral services. He was assisted by Rev. H. H. Redekop, Winkler; Rev. D. D. Doerksen, Boissevain; Dr. A. H. Unruh, Winnipeg; Rev. F. H. Friesen, Morden; Rev. B. B. Boldt, Rev. H. P. Harder, and Rev. R. C. Seibel, Winkler, all of whom also acted as honorary pall-bearers. The active pall-bearers were P. J. Janzen, I. R. Dyck, A. Heide, Geo. Hildebrand, J. Poetker, and J. Wiens.
The 120-voice church and Bible school choir sang at the service.