Willie C. "Bill" Wiebe (1926
- 2015)
Obituary
Willie (Bill) C. Wiebe, 89, of Elbing,
Kansas, son of Anna (Epp) and Herman A. Wiebe, was called home to be
with the Lord late Tuesday night, May 12, 2015, at Kansas Christian
Home in Newton, Kansas. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 PM,
Sunday, May 17 at Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater, Kansas. He will be
interred at the Emmaus Cemetery at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 18. A
memorial service will follow at 11:00 AM at Emmaus Church, rural
Whitewater, Kansas.
He leaves his wife of 14 years, Arlene
(Dietz) Wiebe; his daughter, Nancy Holliday and her husband, Patrick;
grandchildren Nicole Holliday, Rebecca Holliday, and Abigail
Holliday; his daughter-in-law, Arleta Wiebe; and grandchildren,
Andrea Wiebe, Stephanie Tester, Warren Wiebe. He also leaves two
siblings, Gladys Wiebe and Richard Wiebe, along with his wife,
Margaret. Many others also mourn his passing, including extended
family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of
46 years, Dorothy (Dottie) Landis Wiebe, his son, Kevin Wiebe, his
parents, and six siblings.
Born on February 20, 1926, he was
raised on a farm east of Whitewater, Kansas. His early years were
spent working on the farm and attending a country school as well as
German school.
World War II interrupted his education
and he served in alternate military service. When he was 23, he
finally graduated from high school in Hesston, Kansas. He then
attended Grace University in Omaha, where he met his sweetheart,
Dottie Landis. They were married on August 15, 1952 in Newton Kansas.
They lived on a farm in rural Furley for a few years, where daughter,
Nancy, and son, Kevin, were born. They then moved to Winona Lake,
Indiana.
In the late 1950s, the family moved to
rural Peabody, Kansas, where Willie started farming. He enjoyed
carpentry and built the house that they lived in. Bill became active
in the Gideons and also filled in as pastor in a small church in
Wichita.
In 1982, Bill and Dottie, took a step
of faith and Bill became the pastor of a small church in Homestead,
Oklahoma. He felt that he had truly found God's calling for his life.
He loved preaching the Word of God and ministering to the small but
vibrant congregation. After serving for 16 years, they retired to
Elbing, Kansas to live next door to his son Kevin and his family.
During his retirement, Bill continued
to serve the Emmaus Church for another 10 years as an associate
pastor, and later as visitation pastor. He visited countless people
in hospitals and in their homes and always ministered to their
spiritual needs.
Dottie went to meet the Lord in 1997,
and Bill adjusted. He knew of Arlene Dietz in Pennsylvania because
Dottie had been friends with the Dietz girls. After corresponding for
a few months, they discussed marriage and were wed on November 25,
2000. Arlene became indispensable to Bill in this ministry as she
also went on visits to the ill and home bound. Bill always said that
she kept the conversation going when he ran out of words to say
(imagine that!)
Grandchildren especially enjoyed
visiting with their grandpa. If he started telling stories about his
younger days, he opened up fascinating insights into times past.
Bill's sense of humor will be remembered as an endearing personal
characteristic.
Bill Wiebe's passion was for God's
Word. His insights from the pulpit or in Sunday School were uniquely
purposeful, and sometimes, of necessity, pointed. Many people learned
from his teaching and preaching. His passion was so great that even
in his last hours, he found strength to pray for his wife, his
children, his grandchildren, and even his country.
During the last two years of his life,
Bill suffered from Alzheimer's disease. This caused great sadness as
he realized that he would lose the relationships that he treasured.
He soldiered on, with Arlene always by his side.
He brought joy and laughter because he
enjoyed life and enjoyed serving his God. Bill Wiebe, dear husband,
father, grandfather, uncle, will be sorely missed.
