JOHN MARTIN THIESSEN Obituary

JOHN MARTIN THIESSEN was faculty at Sisler High School in Winnipeg, MB. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about John Martin Thiessen.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Passing	Nov 25, 2012
About	John Martin Thiessen passed away peacefully early Sunday morning November 25, 2012 at the age of 87. He is predeceased by his son, Larry, his mother, Anna, father, Johann, his older brother Jake, and his sisters Anne and Sally. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Hilda, his brothers Harry, Eugene, David and Henry and his sister Irene. He is also survived by his three sons David, Paul and Tim, his daughter Carolyn, 14 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. John was born in Kleefeld, Russia in 1925 and immigrated to Canada with his family at a young age. He grew up on a farm in Arnaud, MB where he was blessed with a close family and began to develop a love for mathematics, music and sports. As a young man he served as a conscientious objector in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp during the Second World War. After returning home John went to University to train as a teacher. During his summer break in 1948 he went to work in Ontario, since some of his relatives had moved there. It was then that he met a beautiful young lady - Hilda Unger. In 1950 they married. After graduating from University John spent most of his working life teaching mathematics, music, English and various other subjects at several schools including Eden Christian College, Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI) and Sisler High School. At MBCI he served as teacher, principal and board member and helped establish the school's athletics and music programs. He later moved into the public school system and eventually retired as a math teacher from Sisler High School in 1990. John has been and will always be a shining example of what it truly means to be a man of God. Renaissance man aptly describes his giftedness in music, sports and mathematics. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, teacher, mentor, leader and friend who genuinely cared for everyone he met. He was kind-hearted almost to a fault; gentle and loving towards all. And yet he exuded a humble strength and wisdom that allowed him to also be an effective leader. John had a positive impact on countless lives, and he will be sorely missed. But we have much to celebrate because he lived a full life with dignity and honor and goes, by the grace of God, to his heavenly reward as a good and faithful follower of Christ. A viewing will be held at Friends Funeral Service, 2146 Main Street at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 29, 2012. The funeral service for John will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 30, 2012 at Eastview Community Church, 3500 De Vries Avenue. Donations can be made on behalf of John M. Thiessen to Mennonite Brethren Missions and Services (MBMS) or Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Publish Date: Nov 28, 2012 JOHN MARTIN THIESSEN Peacefully on November 25, 2012 at Misericordia Health Centre, John M. Thiessen, beloved husband of Hilda Thiessen passed away at age 87 years. Funeral service will be held on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Eastview Community Church, 3500 DeVries Avenue, Winnipeg. Longer obituary to follow in Wednesday's edition. Publish Date: Nov 27, 2012 As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 28, 2012