Obituary of John Thiessen
John was born June 23, 1937, to Wilhelm and Maria Thiessen of Schoenwiese. He grew up in a large farming family of five brothers and five sisters.
In 1963 he purchased a farm at Mather. He farmed with his brother Jake until Jake moved to La Crete AB with his family. In 1973 he met Linda Campbell who was teaching in Mather at the time. They were married in 1974 and raised three daughters.
Over the years John did mixed farming, starting with hogs and steers, gradually turning to just grains and oilseeds. He was a councillor for the Rural Municipality of Roblin for 21 years. He had a knack for restoring two-cylinder John Deere tractors and drove them in many parades. John had a love for travelling, taking his family on many trips over the years. When the girls were young, this included camping in Detroit Lakes MN, an airplane/train excursion to Churchill MB, road trips to Kelowna BC, Thunder Bay ON, California, Mexico, Black Hills S.D. and everywhere in between, as John always preferred to take the “scenic route”.
John retired from farming in 2003 and stayed living on the farmyard. They became snowbirds in 2004 spending a number of winters in Yuma AZ in their RV. In 2018, trips to Osoyoos, BC began. A highlight for them was an overseas trip to England and Germany in 2015, where they had the opportunity to visit with former exchange students, Katarina from Sweden and Perdita from Germany. They also took grandchildren Charlie and Peyton on a road trip to the East Coast in 2016.
In 2008, they bought a home in Morden. John took up woodworking as his new hobby, crafting various pieces, including benches, side tables, headboards, and small items for the grandchildren. He enjoyed regular visits to Tim Hortons.
John passed away October 16, 2025, at Boundary Trails Health Centre after a three-year struggle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife Linda (nee Campbell) of Morden, three daughters Jennifer (Curt) Martens of Altona, Cheryl (Phil) Bischoff of Kelowna, Gail (Jason) Wichert of Edmonton; eight grandchildren Aimee (partner Andrew) & Peyton (partner Cody) Martens; Charlie, Lucy & Chloe Bischoff; Sabrina, Owen & Elliot Wichert; one great-grandson Barrett Merke; three sisters and their husbands (Betty & John Toews, Kate & Ed Klassen, Anne & Allen Recksiedler); two sisters-in-law (Katherine Thiessen, Tina Thiessen), brother-in-law Blair & Monica Campbell and sister-in-law Linda Campbell, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents (Wilhelm & Maria), two sisters (Mary & Helen), four brothers (Bill, Peter, Cornie & Jake), two sisters- in-law (Susan Thiessen, Tina Thiessen), three brothers-in-law (Martin Giesbrecht, Peter Letkeman, Glen Campbell) and parents-in-law (Horace and Margaret Campbell).
If friends so desire, donations may be made in John’s memory to The Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation, Box 2000, Winkler, MB R6W 1H8 or Many Hands Food Bank, 500 Stephen St, Morden, MB R6M 1T7
John was born June 23, 1937, to Wilhelm and Maria Thiessen of Schoenwiese. He grew up in a large farming family of five brothers and five sisters.
In 1963 he purchased a farm at Mather. He farmed with his brother Jake until Jake moved to La Crete AB with his family. In 1973 he met Linda Campbell who was teaching in Mather at the time. They were married in 1974 and raised three daughters.
Over the years John did mixed farming, starting with hogs and steers, gradually turning to just grains and oilseeds. He was a councillor for the Rural Municipality of Roblin for 21 years. He had a knack for restoring two-cylinder John Deere tractors and drove them in many parades. John had a love for travelling, taking his family on many trips over the years. When the girls were young, this included camping in Detroit Lakes MN, an airplane/train excursion to Churchill MB, road trips to Kelowna BC, Thunder Bay ON, California, Mexico, Black Hills S.D. and everywhere in between, as John always preferred to take the “scenic route”.
John retired from farming in 2003 and stayed living on the farmyard. They became snowbirds in 2004 spending a number of winters in Yuma AZ in their RV. In 2018, trips to Osoyoos, BC began. A highlight for them was an overseas trip to England and Germany in 2015, where they had the opportunity to visit with former exchange students, Katarina from Sweden and Perdita from Germany. They also took grandchildren Charlie and Peyton on a road trip to the East Coast in 2016.
In 2008, they bought a home in Morden. John took up woodworking as his new hobby, crafting various pieces, including benches, side tables, headboards, and small items for the grandchildren. He enjoyed regular visits to Tim Hortons.
John passed away October 16, 2025, at Boundary Trails Health Centre after a three-year struggle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife Linda (nee Campbell) of Morden, three daughters Jennifer (Curt) Martens of Altona, Cheryl (Phil) Bischoff of Kelowna, Gail (Jason) Wichert of Edmonton; eight grandchildren Aimee (partner Andrew) & Peyton (partner Cody) Martens; Charlie, Lucy & Chloe Bischoff; Sabrina, Owen & Elliot Wichert; one great-grandson Barrett Merke; three sisters and their husbands (Betty & John Toews, Kate & Ed Klassen, Anne & Allen Recksiedler); two sisters-in-law (Katherine Thiessen, Tina Thiessen), brother-in-law Blair & Monica Campbell and sister-in-law Linda Campbell, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents (Wilhelm & Maria), two sisters (Mary & Helen), four brothers (Bill, Peter, Cornie & Jake), two sisters- in-law (Susan Thiessen, Tina Thiessen), three brothers-in-law (Martin Giesbrecht, Peter Letkeman, Glen Campbell) and parents-in-law (Horace and Margaret Campbell).
If friends so desire, donations may be made in John’s memory to The Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation, Box 2000, Winkler, MB R6W 1H8 or Many Hands Food Bank, 500 Stephen St, Morden, MB R6M 1T7