John Wiebe

John Wiebe

1933 - 2020

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Obituary of John Wiebe

 

John Wiebe, 87, of Grunthal, Manitoba, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at Menno Home For The Aged, Grunthal, MB.

 

Our dad came into this world on April 8, 1933. He was born to his parents Aron and Helena (Thiessen) Wiebe at Kronsthal (near Gretna) in a little granary. Around 1944 the family moved to Snowflake where he spent his growing up years. His schooling was at the Starmound School. Dad was baptized upon the confession of his faith on June 6,1954 at Crystal City by Bishop John Friesen.


As a young man he worked for a farmer named Walter Jones. In 1954 Dad's uncle and aunt needed a driver to take them back to Mexico. Being a young man ready for adventure, Dad jumped at the chance to travel! No passport, no problem! His big smile was all he needed to get him there and back! He even did some horse racing with his brother Cornie!


Dad worked as a lumberjack for several years at a few different locations... Mafeking, Loon Straits, Vassar and Grand Rapids. He had many interesting stories to tell about his adventures driving to and from some of these remote places in northern Manitoba in the middle of winter.


Dad had his first date with our mom Helen Martens on March 1,1959. They were married on November 1,1959 in Winkler. The first winter of their married life they lived in a lumber camp where Mom served as camp cook. They lived at Plum Coulee for a while where Dad worked for Dave's Tire & Gas. Then in 1962 they moved to Tolstoi where they started farming. Dad also took a sideline job working for Gagne Gravel and later for Altona Concrete at the yard in Tolstoi. What Dad really loved was doing custom baling and overhauling swather or tractor motors in his shop. Later he took an interest in market gardening, planting rows and rows of corn to sell at farmers market.


Dad had open heart surgery in August of 1975 at the age of 43, replacing a valve in his heart followed by a gallstone operation at the end of November that same year. After many years of always being tired, he gained a fresh zeal on life. That valve kept his heart pumping for almost another 45 years!


Family was very important in the lives of our parents, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren were welcome any time, but as Dad would sometimes say, "we're glad to see you come, we're glad to see you go!" He always had time for coffee, and if we arrived there at midnight! "Let's have coffee!" Dad and Mom did a fair bit of traveling... Mexico, Bolivia, Paraguay, a train trip to the east coast, New York & BC to visit grandchildren. Dad also traveled with a missionary friend to NWT to help spread the gospel to the native people. He developed a great burden to share the gospel in the years before his stroke, passing out CDs and supporting the Lord's work overseas.

 

On March 30, 2011 everything changed for Dad when he had a massive stroke which resulted in him never walking again and needing full care for all of his needs except that he could still feed himself. It was very hard to accept that this would become our new normal. He lived in the Vita Care Home for a year, then moved to the Menno Home in Grunthal which has been his home for the last 8 years. His journey ended on Thursday April 30, 2020 at 2:40 pm when the Lord Jesus released him from his earthly body and ushered him through heaven's door. Through it all, "God is still good".

 

He is survived by four daughters and four sons- Mary (Jake) Reimer of Castlegar, BC; Annette (Barney) Wieler of Grunthal; John (Martha) of Stuartburn; Helen (Johan)Braun of Reinland; Eva of Steinbach; Dave (Shirley) of Vita; Jake (Marge) of Tolstoi; Aron (Helen) of Plum Coulee; 36 grandchildren; 51 great grandchildren; three brothers, two sisters and their families.

 

His loving wife Helen predeceased him on September 18, 2018 with whom he shared his life for almost 59 years. He was also predeceased by his parents and two sisters.

 

We as a family want to thank the wonderful staff at the Menno Home for the amazing care of our Dad for the past 8 years. It means more than words can express! Thank you also to the many friends who came to visit Dad, those who faithfully sent cards and the unceasing prayers. God bless you all!

 

A private family service will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

 

If friends so desire, donations in memory of John may be made to the Menno Home Foundation, Box 280, Grunthal, MB, R0A 0R0. 

Tuesday
12
May

Private Family Service

2:00 pm
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Birchwood Funeral Chapel
162 PTH 52 W
Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
(204) 346-1030