Abe Thiessen

Surrounded by the love of his family Abe Thiessen passed away peacefully on January 22, 2018 at Trinity Village Care Centre at the age of 92.

Abe treasured his family. Beloved husband of the late Trudy Thiessen (January 4, 2014). Dear father of Karen Nowak ( Ed ) of Waterloo, Dave Thiessen ( Berit ) of Austin, Texas, Barbara Krick ( Ray ) of San Vito, Costa Rica and John ( Marisa ) of New York City. Grandfather to Angela Garland (Nathan), Andrew Nowak (Sarah), Sara and Luke Thiessen, Laura and Brendan Krick and Matteo Thiessen. Great grandfather of Olivia, Hannah and Alayna Garland, Ava and William Nowak and Jackson Krick.

Abe grew up in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan. At age 18 he moved to Kitchener where he met Trudy Kahlenberg who he married in 1946, after serving two years as a conscientious objector in the army with the Medical Corps. Abe studied at Waterloo College ( now WLU ) and graduated in 1950 receiving the Klinck English Honours Prize and a Public Speaking Award for the best speech delivered by a student. He then went on and taught English for 17 years, the majority at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School. He spent another 14 years on the Secretariat of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. For 15 years after his retirement he served as the teacher representative on grievance arbitration boards. Abe was one of the founding members of Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church. In their later years he and Trudy were active members of Waterloo North Mennonite Church where they received much love and spiritual nourishment.
A sincere and special thank you to Patricia from Retire-at-Home Kitchener and to the staff at Trinity Village Care Centre for their loving care and compassion during the past thirteen months.

A memorial service to celebrate Abe’s life will be held in the chapel at Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener on Thursday February 8th . Abe’s family will receive relatives and friends prior to the memorial beginning at 9:30 a.m. The memorial service will start at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception. After the reception, a private family interment will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy donations to Mennonite Central Committee ( MCC ) would be appreciated by the family. Visit www.henrywalser.com for Abe's memorial.