Obituary of Kimberley Susan Thiessen

Kimberley Susan Thiessen, born on June 27, 1980, passed away suddenly on November 18, 2021, at Steinbach Bethesda Hospital with her sister Eleanor Dyck by her side.

She was born with curly blonde hair and a quick smile. From young, Kimberley had a fun-loving sense of adventure. Nothing scared Kim or slowed her down – not even a cast that had to be cast over twice because she broke her toes twice. Kimberley was often barefoot and could run faster on gravel then most could on grass.

Kim loved to hug. She would hug friends. She would hug family. And she would hug friends of family. We can picture Kim hugging Jesus and making sure Jesus knows who all her friends and family in Heaven are.

Her sister, Eleanor, was born 18 months later and the two of them did everything together including graduating from Vita Shevchenko School in June 1999 and being baptized in the Stuartburn Sommerfeld Mennonite Church on May 23, 1999. At the church, Kimberley enjoyed attending Sunday School, Youth, and then Young Adults as well as volunteering for Daily Vacation Bible School in the summers.

After grad, Kimberley started working at SMILE of St. Malo Inc. Kim worked there for just over 20 years. She loved to go to work, and she was sad on days when she could not go. She loved the friends she made. She came home and had many stories to tell about her day and the funny things her friends did. Through SMILE, Kim volunteered at the Good News Day Care in Grunthal and she worked in their recycling program. SMILE also often put on theatrical performances, and this was one of Kim’s favorite things about the program. She was so excited to act, and her loud laughter rang throughout the room.

She also was involved with Special Olympics. On Saturdays, Hildie Nickel would pick up Kim along with her friends Trevor and Tim to go bowling with Special Olympics in Steinbach. There was never a dull moment on those car rides. After the game, they would all walk to A&W to enjoy burgers, fries and of course, Root Beer. She would be so excited to tell her family about her experience.

Kim loved her 5 brothers and 3 sisters and their spouses and she had a special love for her 28 nieces and nephews. She loved each one of them and was eager to give them gum, candy, friendship bracelets and most of all hugs. They all have special memories of Kim. Some lived close to Kim and Kim liked to share her farming expertise with them as they did the chores. A few lived on the farm for a few months with her. Some went camping with her. Some took her on special vacations. Most had sleep overs on the farm at one point or another. Kim also loved to play games, color, play football, and have wiener roasts with them.

The house is too quiet without Kim saying: “Mom come puzzle with me.” or “Mom play games with me.” or “Mom read to me.”  One of Kim’s favorite things to do was to make bracelets while Mom read to her. Kim listened every day as Mom read devotions to her. Found in her Journal are Bible verses that she copied out. Most evenings Kim played games with Dad and Mom. Two of her favorite games were “Send Daddy Home” (a homemade version of Trouble) and Skip Bo.

Kim enjoyed working on the farm with Dad and when it was time to feed cows she could be heard saying “K. Let’s go Dad”.

She loved driving the riding lawn mower, biking, playing in water, and singing. Without fail, she asked every year at the Christmas Family Gathering to sing Jingle Bells. The day before she passed Kim was singing, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Left to cherish Kimberley’s memory are her parents, Cornie and Elsie Thiessen. Delmer (Judy) Cordell, Ainsleigh. Anthony (Marilyn) Warrick, Grace, Israel, Abigail. Virginia (Clayton) Alicia, Ethan. Norman (Nettie) Jayden, Tyler, Nathan. Jason (Jenn) Jadon, Kyla, Ali. Audrey (Dennis) Jasmine (Mike) Janelle (Andres) Shailyn, AJ, Jaime, Cheyene, Storm. Arnold (Wendy) Zachary, Annika, Kyanna, Averi. Eleanor (Adam) Cole, Riley, Meghan.

This is not “Good-Bye.” This is “See you later Kim.”  Love, your Family.

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus”

The come and go viewings will be held on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.