Wilbert Thiessen was born to Peter and Dora Thiessen on September 8, 1940, in Steinbach Manitoba. After struggling with Parkinsons for many years, Dad was finally able to take his long-awaited flight to be with Jesus on February 25, 2025, reaching the age of 84. He breathed his last breath one minute before 11:00am while some family were singing "Heavenly Sunlight," a favorite song. We smile, imagining that his heavenly appointment was set for 11:00, but Dad made sure he was a minute early, a tribute to how he lived his life.

His first 4 years were spent on his parent's farm near Rosenort, Manitoba. From there they moved to a farm in Crooked Creek, Alberta, where Dad grew up and started his own life. He had many tales to tell us about those years.

On the confession of his faith, Dad was baptized by minister Reuben Koehn on October 27,1953 and became a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.

Dad married our beautiful Mom, Rebecca Friesen, in Crooked Creek on June 4, 1961. They had six children in seven years. This was a bit of a feather in their hats, and it made for busy times. In 1987 they moved to Neilburg, Saskatchewan where they resided until 2019, after which they returned to Crooked Creek to take up residence in the Ridge Valley Seniors Home. Several weeks ago, because of Dad's need for additional care, they moved to Hythe, Alberta. We are very grateful for the kind care given to Dad by the staffs and administrations of these care homes.

Dad was a very active person with a keen intellect. He loved adventure, and many were the camping trips, picnics, and swimming down at the Simonette river, all intertwined with hard work on the family farm. He was innovative and was noted for doing things efficiently. He made his living farming, logging, sawmilling, and welding. Running "Cat" was his specialty.

Dad lived carefully both physically and spiritually. He was our "rock" in the storms of life. When asked, he would offer practical words of advice. He had a serious side that could give way to mischievousness, expressing itself with a dry sense of humor, a twinkle in his eye, and a grin.

He was ordained into the Ministry in July of 1979, and put his heart into being an evangelist and pastor for many years. He would often travel to different communities to help with revival meetings. He felt deeply for those who were struggling and was a father to many. We remember his inspirational preaching and cherish the prayers he offered almost to the very end, even though we could not understand everything he said. We have no doubt that his connection to God was genuine.

Those left to lovingly ponder a life well lived are his wife Rebecca, six children, Roland and Wanda, Fern and Glen Wohlgemuth, Glenda and Galen Loetkeman, Lester and Ruth, Jerry and Tami, and Darla and Fred Goossen. He has twenty-nine grandchildren and thirty-three great grandchildren. Surviving him are two sisters, Olive and Wayne Klassen, and Marion and Keith Isaac, two sisters-in-law, Viola Thiessen, and Lillian Thiessen, two brothers-in-law, Harvey and Maggie Friesen, and Robert Friesen, and two sisters-in-law, Virginia Friesen and Roberta MacKinnon.

Preceding him in death are his parents, parents-in-law, three brothers, two sisters, two sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, one grandson, and one granddaughter.