Wiens, Lena Klippenstein (1915-2000)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 2000 Aug 11 p. 29

Birth date: 1915 Mar 1

text of obituary:

LENA WIENS

Lena Wiens of St. Catharines, Ont. passed away June 23. She was born Mar. 1, 1915 to Heinrich and Katharina Klippenstein in the Pavlodar settlement, Siberia. In 1928 the family moved to Savitaya settlement near the Amur River. In 1930 they fled to China. In 1932 they moved to Fernheim, Paraguay. Here, she turned her life over to Christ and was baptized, joining the MB church. In 1936 her father died. She and her sister had to do outside work, including ploughing. She married Johann Wiens Aug. 28, 1937. They moved to Karlsruhe, Paraguay to farm. In 1977 they followed all of their children to Canada. They lived in St. Catharines for 2 years, then moved to Clearbrook, B.C., where they felt at home. They joined Clearbrook MB Church, sang in the seniors choir and enjoyed the friendship of many former acquaintances. In 1997, they moved back to St. Catharines, where they joined Scott St. MB Church. After a heart attack in 1988, she moved to Tabor Manor nursing home. Predeceased by 1 sister and 2 brothers, she is mourned by Johann; children Frank of B.C., Henry of Portland, Ore., Erika Schroeder of Fort Erie, Ont.; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters and 1 brother. The funeral was June 26 in Scott St. MB Church, with Rudy Willms and Vic Loewen ministering.