Henry Otto Thiessen

As told to my daughter, Elaine, July 2015

I was born on my dad’s homestead in Morse, Saskatchewan on November 10, 1918, the day before Armistice Day. Peace was declared the day after I was born! My parents were Henry Abraham and Helen Thiessen. My father and mother’s families emigrated from Feurstenland Colony, South Russia to America. Their families both arrived in Texas and that is where they met. They were married when my mother was 19 years old and my father was 26 years old. The CPR advertised free homesteads in Canada and that is how they came to live in Saskatchewan.

All of us 12 children were born in Morse, Saskatchewan. Our family moved several times during my school years so I attended different schools. I went to school to Grade 9. Our dad read devotions every morning and I had an early interest in spiritual things. When I was 14 years old, a minister from Saskatoon came to our area for Bible study. After he left, I said to my brother, Abe, I don’t think we are Christians. We need to accept Jesus. So when our dad came home he helped us accept Christ. I was a different person the next day.

At the age of 14, I worked out at a neighbor’s farm. When I was 18 I drove an army bus and supply trucks for the army. It was WWII and I remained in Saskatchewan as a conscientious objector (CO). My job took me to Saskatoon where I met Evelyn Huebner, a girl I had known from our farm days. We were married on October 11, 1942 and lived in Saskatoon.

In Saskatoon, I worked in the Creamery Pool and also as a butcher, and for an American farmer at different times. I attended Bethany Bible School for 2 years and was on the Young People’s committee to promote English. The next year I went to attend Regina Bible College. Then I heard about Briercrest Bible College and went there for one year and graduated from there in 1947. Our son, Arnold, and daughter, Elaine, were born in Saskatoon.

In Saskatoon, I heard a man, Mr. Rudd, give an impressive testimony in church. He was a district manager for Electrolux vacuum cleaners and gave me the management of the region around North Battleford. My family moved there, where our children grew up and business grew to be a success.

We were very involved in the Alliance Church in North Battleford, where my brother, John, was the pastor. My brothers, Art and Herb, moved to North Battleford so we were four brothers living in the same city. I was Sunday School superintendent, member of the church board, taught Sunday School, and was a member of Gideons International. I contacted native and welfare families around our city to invite them to church and brought their children to Sunday School.

I loved driving and travelled so much with my business that I always had a reliable car. I drove our family on many vacations across Canada and into the USA.

Our family purchased a property 45 minutes away from North Battleford, at Turtle Lake where we built a cabin. Our family spent many holidays out in the beautiful forests and beaches around Indian Point. We went canoeing and fishing and took hikes around the many lakes in that area.

In 1962 Evelyn and I adopted two children, Mark, at age 9, and Valerie, at age 6. They became a special part of our family.

During these years, as I looked back at my life, I felt it had been driven by the circumstances of war and then the responsibilities of a family. I felt I had missed out on an education and a worthwhile career. In 1966, at the age of 48, I decided to upgrade my high school and attend university. I completed a B Ed at the U of C and was hired as a teacher in a Junior High School in Calgary, but I did not find this to be the career for me. I took a course in California to repair vinyl upholstery. I had a shop in my garage in Calgary and established a successful business named Vino-Weld, which I worked at for the next 15 years.

Evelyn, my wife of 42 years, passed away with cancer in 1985. I met Anne Funk of Abbotsford, BC and we were married on July 4, 1987. I sold my house and business in Calgary and moved to Abbotsford. Now Anne and I have shared more than 25 years of marriage.

Music was always part of my life. I even took a few piano lessons. I always sang in quartets and mixed choirs. Fishing and golfing are my favourite hobbies in my retirement.

I have been blessed with a long and healthy life. I was never sick or kept overnight in the hospital until my 96th year. In the summer of 2014, all seven of us brothers golfed together at our annual sibling reunion. All of us were aged 80 – 95.

The simple, humble life and honesty of our farm community when we were growing up was the source of a great resourcefulness and strength in the careers and Christian attitudes of each one of us in our family. I believe that if we walk with the Lord and have His spirit we can be a blessing to others.

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Henry Thiessen passed away on June 28, 2016. He was born on his Dad’s homestead in Morse, Sask. The oldest of twelve children, he was parented by Henry A. and Helen Thiessen (ne Andres). He was raised in a Christian family, accepting Jesus at age 14.

Henry and Evelyn, his first wife, lived in Saskatoon, where their two children Elaine and Arnold were born. Later, in North Battleford, they adopted Valerie and Mark at age 6 and 9. Evelyn passed away in 1985. Mark passed away at age 53.

Henry was predeceased by his sister Sally and two young brothers. He is survived by daughters Elaine (John) Warkentin and Valerie (Robert) Streilein of Winnipeg, and son Arnold, grandchildren Glenda (Brad Graham), Kevin, Gordon (Christine), and Nathan, Rosalee and Angela, as well as great-grandsons Eli, Nolan and Juda Henry.

Henry’s various moves took him to Calgary and eventually to retire in Abbotsford where he married Anne Funk in 1987. His life-work encompassed salesmanship (Electrolux) and furniture repair business in Calgary for 15 years.

In 1947 he graduated from Briercrest Bible Institute and at age 48 he upgraded his education, receiving his Bachelor of Education degree. He was always deeply involved in church work, wherever he lived, being sensitive to Christian values all his life of 97 years. A missions trip to Bolivia at age 88 was a highlight. Henry was never sickly, or kept in hospital until his 96th year. He was always grateful for energy to golf, help host annual brothers reunions and to travel to Fairmont Hot Springs, Hawaii, Palm Springs and the prairies.

He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn Funeral Home, Abbotsford, BC.