Obituary for John Wiebe
John Wiebe, born Sept. 2, 1934 to Jacob and Agatha (nee Derksen) Wiebe, was the 4th of 10 children. He grew up at the family farm near Springstein, attended Ferndale School to Grade 8, and became a farmer. Post Grade 8 education was one year at the Bible School in Altona. As an avid reader his knowledge grew.
He worshipped in the local church, participated in youth activities, choir, played hockey and baseball, was baptised in his late teens, served the church in maintenance, and assisted with the building addition in 1981.
When his parents retired to Springstein, he moved with them. He cared for them to their retirement- became their chauffer to church, appointments, visits to family and friends, and holidays to relatives in Ontario.
His home was always open to distant sibling overnight visits. The favorite children’s breakfast was an “Uncle Johnny breakfast”- 0reo cookies and chocolate cake. Playtime with all the treasures in his basement was the best.
Joys in his bucket included travelling, fishing, golfing, curling, and snow birding in Texas.
Salmon fishing in the Pacific Ocean with his friends was his color of happy. His family enjoyed smoked fish at Christmas. Pickerel fishing in the Dauphin River was a great sport as were the fish fries that followed.
Golfing was in his DNA. His membership in Elm Creek was well used. One year he and his cousin John golfed at least once every month of the year. Painfully, the fire ants in Texas assaulted him while hunting for golf balls. Fortunately, he survived.
Travelling included a trip to Africa with the Food Grains Bank, to Alaska with a friend, to Ontario with parents and sisters, to Calgary to visit sister Liz. Always there a was the annual winter holiday in Texas.
In 2010 the silent creeper, Old Age, led him to relocate to Lindenwood Villa, a Condo living community with many new friends where he played pool, continued to golf, and go to the farm where he was most at home.
In Nov. 2020 he became ill and relocated to The Rosewood supportive living. Care was excellent, new friends were made. In Aug. 2022 suffering a new health issue, he relocated to Pembina Personal Care Home. His last request was “How do I get out of here?” Now he is out. Now he is Home.
He will be missed.
He was predeceased by his parents Jacob & Agatha Wiebe, sister Helen Friesen, brother Jacob Wiebe, 2 nephews - Brad Unrau, Kent Wiebe, sister-in-law Helga Wiebe, 3 brother -in-laws- Paul Unrau, Victor Kroeger, Jack Elias
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Missing him are 2 brothers Cornelius (Hilda), Abram (Susan), & 5 sisters- Nellie Wiebe, Elizabeth Elias, Agatha Kroeger, Mary Unrau (Ed Zacharias), Kathie Wiebe, brother-in-law Ben (Pat) Friesen
Special nephew David Wiebe (Carol) -Children- Natalie, Jeffrey (Miriam), Keenan (Karis) & their children- Atlas & Oslo
Special niece Edie Pankratz (David) and children Coryn, Emily (Cameron) Tomchuk
16 more nieces and nephews and their families;
Gerald/Julie Friesen, Glenn/Marilyn Friesen, Gregory Friesen/Dale Chator, Gordon Friesen/ Theresa Sawatsky
Monica Wiebe, Kurt/Connie Wiebe, Ingrid/Clarence Krahn, Heather/ Bernie Hildebrand, Fred/Christine Wiebe
Connie/Alvin Wiebe
Kathy/Dwight Doell
Margaret /Tim Tyacke, Elizabeth Kroeger
Kim/Kyle Peters, Robert/Verona Unrau, Juanita Unrau
Jennifer Elias
He worshipped in the local church, participated in youth activities, choir, played hockey and baseball, was baptised in his late teens, served the church in maintenance, and assisted with the building addition in 1981.
When his parents retired to Springstein, he moved with them. He cared for them to their retirement- became their chauffer to church, appointments, visits to family and friends, and holidays to relatives in Ontario.
His home was always open to distant sibling overnight visits. The favorite children’s breakfast was an “Uncle Johnny breakfast”- 0reo cookies and chocolate cake. Playtime with all the treasures in his basement was the best.
Joys in his bucket included travelling, fishing, golfing, curling, and snow birding in Texas.
Salmon fishing in the Pacific Ocean with his friends was his color of happy. His family enjoyed smoked fish at Christmas. Pickerel fishing in the Dauphin River was a great sport as were the fish fries that followed.
Golfing was in his DNA. His membership in Elm Creek was well used. One year he and his cousin John golfed at least once every month of the year. Painfully, the fire ants in Texas assaulted him while hunting for golf balls. Fortunately, he survived.
Travelling included a trip to Africa with the Food Grains Bank, to Alaska with a friend, to Ontario with parents and sisters, to Calgary to visit sister Liz. Always there a was the annual winter holiday in Texas.
In 2010 the silent creeper, Old Age, led him to relocate to Lindenwood Villa, a Condo living community with many new friends where he played pool, continued to golf, and go to the farm where he was most at home.
In Nov. 2020 he became ill and relocated to The Rosewood supportive living. Care was excellent, new friends were made. In Aug. 2022 suffering a new health issue, he relocated to Pembina Personal Care Home. His last request was “How do I get out of here?” Now he is out. Now he is Home.
He will be missed.
He was predeceased by his parents Jacob & Agatha Wiebe, sister Helen Friesen, brother Jacob Wiebe, 2 nephews - Brad Unrau, Kent Wiebe, sister-in-law Helga Wiebe, 3 brother -in-laws- Paul Unrau, Victor Kroeger, Jack Elias
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Missing him are 2 brothers Cornelius (Hilda), Abram (Susan), & 5 sisters- Nellie Wiebe, Elizabeth Elias, Agatha Kroeger, Mary Unrau (Ed Zacharias), Kathie Wiebe, brother-in-law Ben (Pat) Friesen
Special nephew David Wiebe (Carol) -Children- Natalie, Jeffrey (Miriam), Keenan (Karis) & their children- Atlas & Oslo
Special niece Edie Pankratz (David) and children Coryn, Emily (Cameron) Tomchuk
16 more nieces and nephews and their families;
Gerald/Julie Friesen, Glenn/Marilyn Friesen, Gregory Friesen/Dale Chator, Gordon Friesen/ Theresa Sawatsky
Monica Wiebe, Kurt/Connie Wiebe, Ingrid/Clarence Krahn, Heather/ Bernie Hildebrand, Fred/Christine Wiebe
Connie/Alvin Wiebe
Kathy/Dwight Doell
Margaret /Tim Tyacke, Elizabeth Kroeger
Kim/Kyle Peters, Robert/Verona Unrau, Juanita Unrau
Jennifer Elias