John THIESSEN

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THIESSEN: John David Thiessen was born in Felsenbach, Ukraine on October 31, 1923, to David and Margarethe Tiessen. He passed away on March 25, 2011, at Brandon Regional Health Centre. John is survived by his wife Aggie (nee Thiessen) and six children: Bill (Debbie) Thiessen of Brandon, Marg Rempel of Ste. Anne, Ken (Irmgard) Thiessen of Abbotsford, B.C., Larry (Lavina) Thiessen of Mitchell, Marv (Rhonda) Thiessen of Alexander, Marianne Thiessen of Alexander. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren: Victoria (Neil) Neary and son Andrew, Nolan (Christine) Thiessen and daughters Taylor and Tyra; Jason (Kristy) Rempel and daughter Avery, Joel Rempel, Alison Rempel; Chris (Jessica) Thiessen and son Emmett, Erin (Lyndon) Braun, Marty Thiessen; Kayla Thiessen, Samantha Thiessen; Andrea Thiessen, Eric Thiessen, Matt Thiessen. John is also survived by three brothers, one sister, and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, three brothers, three sisters, and one son-in-law, Ron Rempel. Leaving behind revolution and famine, John immigrated to Canada at three years of age, with his parents and one older brother, in January, 1927. Within a year they were settled on a farm near Khedive, Saskatchewan. John received his education (Grades 1 - 9) at the nearby one room Fordyce School. After working for a few years to help support the family, he furthered his education with a year of studies at Swift Current Bible School, 1941-42. Having turned 18 during the Second World War, he received registration as a conscientious objector, and was assigned a placement as an unpaid farm labourer. In 1945, John's parents sold their farm in southern Saskatchewan and moved to a farm near Alexander, Manitoba. After helping move livestock, equipment and family members, he enrolled at the Musker Engineering School in Winnipeg. From that institute, he received his certification as an electrician, oxygen-acetylene welder, and senior auto mechanic, by February 1947. He opened his own mechanic's shop on Hwy. 1 west of Brandon. On June 18, 1949 he married Aggie and they purchased Oak Valley Farm, along the Assiniboine River Valley, six miles northeast of Alexander. They farmed (dairy and crops) and raised their children at that location. In 1990, John and Aggie retired to a house on Centennial Avenue in Brandon. Within a decade John was facing some of the challenges of Parkinson's Disease and in 2005, the move was made to Village Green Apartment complex on Ottawa Avenue Requiring full-time care, he moved to the Fairview Home on 13th St. in April 2009. He was hospitalized with severe Parkinson's related pneumonia on Sunday, March 20th, and passed on into eternal rest early on Friday, March 25, 2011. We were blessed with a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. We wish to express our deep and sincere gratitude to the Home Care staff, nurses and volunteers at the Fairview Home, and the medical staff on the 4th floor, Brandon Regional Health Centre, for the loving care extended to John these past years. The funeral service was held at Oak Lake Mennonite Church in Oak Lake, Manitoba on Wednesday, March 30, 2011. nterment took place at Rosewood Memorial Gardens. If friends so desire donations in memory of John may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 5K9. Expressions of sympathy may be made atwww.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Apr 02, 2011