Hillsboro - Wilmer Henry Thiessen, 89, passed away from this life on earth to his heavenly home on Saturday, December 19, 2020 in Wichita, Kansas.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Hildegard, his children, Charlene (Fred DeLoera) Thiessen, Lynette (Dwight) Roth, Shaun (Karen) Thiessen, and Vonda (Duane) Kinser. His grandchildren, Aaron (Alena) Almendarez, Jessie (Adam) Hartke, Sandy (David Snyir) Almendarez, Alex Thiessen, Zac Thiessen, Andrew Kinser, and Daniel Kinser. His great-grandchildren, Henry Hartke, Asa Almendarez, Garrett Snyir and Leona Snyir. And his brother, Virgil (Nelda) Thiessen.
Burial will take place on Tuesday, December 29, at 1:00 p.m. in the Gnadenau Cemetery outside of Hillsboro, Kansas. A Memorial Service will be planned for later in Spring of 2021. Memorials to Tabor College in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063. Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com
Life Sketch Taken from the Funeral Bulletin
Wilmer Henry Thiessen, 89, passed away from this life on earth to his heavenly home on Saturday, December 19, 2020 in Wichita, Kansas.
Wilmer was born on a cold, winter day, January 30, 1931 to Henry and Anna Thiessen outside of Henderson, Nebraska. He grew up on a farm in a family of seven children, Herbert, Linda, Berniece, Martha, Melvin, Wilmer and Virgil. He often shared vivid memories of the many adventures he had with his siblings, especially his brothers Melvin and Virgil. (It’s amazing that he made it to adulthood, hearing the stories he told.) It was a happy life and he was a happy boy. His life revolved around the family farm, his church, the Henderson Mennonite Brethren Church, and his school. He attended elementary school in the local country school near his home. His high school years were spent at the Henderson High School in town. He often told how his first mode of transportation to high school was his horse. He graduated in 1948. After high school he was able to begin his college studies at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas. It was there that he met a young lady in the bookstore on the first day of classes. Her name was Hildegard Krieger.
After several years, and other adventures in between, he married that young lady, Hildegard, on June 6, 1954 in the Bessie MB Church outside of her hometown of Cordell, Oklahoma. They began their married life in Denver, Colorado where Wilmer had served in 1W Service during the early 1950s. They, along with several other young couples, helped to start the Garden Park Mennonite Brethren Church in Denver. Many of those same couples joined together and built what became Deer Creek Christian Camp in the mountains outside of Bailey, CO. There Wilmer enjoyed many hours building and working alongside Christian friends. They lived a happy life in Denver and Littleton, Colorado (with short periods also living in Henderson, NE and Hillsboro, KS) for the next 20 years.
During these years they added to their family. Charlene was born in 1955 during their time living in Henderson, NE. After moving the family back to Denver, Lynette joined the family in 1958, Shaun in 1961 and Vonda in 1965. In the early 1970s, Wilmer and Hildegard also helped to birth another church family, Bellview Acres Mennonite Brethren Church in Littleton, CO.
After 20 years in the Denver and Littleton area, Wilmer was offered a job at the Mennonite Brethren Missions Office in Hillsboro, Kansas. They moved the family in June 1974. They spent the next 40some years working, worshiping and just enjoying the life God gave them in Hillsboro.
In September of 2018, Wilmer and Hildegard made the decision to move to Wichita, Kansas to be closer to their children because of Hildegard’s diagnosis of dementia. They enjoyed two years in their new home at Kansas Masonic Home where Hildegard still resides. The last few years of Wilmer’s life were consumed with caring for his bride of 66 years. They had some difficult times, but they also enjoyed many happy days getting to know their neighbors and staff members at KMH.
Wilmer is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anna, his brothers, Herbert and Melvin, his sisters, Linda, Berniece, and Martha.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Hildegard, his children, Charlene (Fred DeLoera) Thiessen, Lynette (Dwight) Roth, Shaun (Karen) Thiessen, and Vonda (Duane) Kinser. His grandchildren, Aaron (Alena) Almendarez, Jessie (Adam) Hartke, Sandy (David Snyir) Almendarez, Alex Thiessen, Zac Thiessen, Andrew Kinser and Daniel Kinser. His great-grandchildren, Henry Hartke, Asa Almendarez, Garrett Snyir and Leona Snyir. And his brother, Virgil (Nelda) Thiessen.
Burial will take place on Tuesday, December 29, in the Gnadenau Cemetery outside of Hillsboro, Kansas. A Memorial Service will be planned for later in Spring of 2021.
Wilmer never knew a stranger and he accumulated friends wherever he went. So, the family would like to thank his many family and friends who enriched his life throughout the years. Especially his last two years at Kansas Masonic Home when he needed extra help in caring for Hildegard, thank you to the KMH staff.