Christian Messenger obituary: 1945 Jul 10 p. 13

Birth date: 1877 Apr 15

text of obituary:

Missionary Peter Jakob Wiens,Son of Jakob J. and Maria Quapp of Vienna, was born on April 15, 1877 in Neu-Schönsee, near Kherson, South Russia, where he attended school and helped his father and brothers on the farm until he moved in 1896 the newly organized "Central School" , Here he studied among other things Bible and German in preparation for missionary service. Afterwards he thought about his further education z. Neukirchen, Germany z. gain, but came Pred. David Goerz from Newton, Kansas, just arrived from India, and persuaded him to come to America and visit Bethel College. He enrolled in college in 1900 and gained many lifelong friends as he prepared for missionary service in college, and thereafter from 1904 to 1905 at the Missionary Training Institute, Brooklyn, New York. Following an urgent call from the External Mission Department of the General Conference, he shortened his studies, and after marrying Agnes Harder, whom he met at Bethel College, they immediately went to our mission field in central province, India, after a short honeymoon about Russia. He was stationed until 1911 on Champa and then moved 24 miles south on Mauhadih where a new station was opened. From then to 1937 - with the exception of 1928, since he u. Family stationed on Basna - he devoted his full strength to building the great station with extensive evangelistic, medical and educational work. In addition to instructions in the construction of many secondary station buildings, he traveled a lot over large areas in all seasons and was often called to help poor patients urgently needed help. 1915 In 1925 and 1937 he was on vacation home in America. Weakened health did not allow return to India for further service. During 1937-1938 he toured conference communities in America for the sake of our mission. He loved the Indian people and would like to return to India to spend his last years under him. In recent years he was in the Historical Library of the Allg. The conference deals with sorting and outputting conference and mission literature and also did translations for the MCC. He loved his Savior and gave his heart to God early on and dedicated his life to his ministry. He was diligent in Sunday school and parish work, and had a special enjoyment of singing, which made it easier to win the hearts of the Indian people and bear burdens on life. After an illness of two weeks at home and eight days in Bethel Hospital, he was called home on June 7, 1945. His wife mourns for him; 5 children: Ferdinand J., Portland, Oregon; Rudolph P., also in YMCA service in Iraq; Mrs. Robert Willis and Mrs. Galen Koehn, Newton, Kans .; and Mrs. Daniel Epp, Toccoa, Ga .; 8 grandchildren; 1 brother, Franz J. Wiens, Paraguay; and 1 sister, Mrs. John Harder, Hepburn, Sask. In his last illness, he often spoke of the joyful home in heaven and asked everyone to meet him there. He is not dead - just went home. The funeral took place in the memorial hall. Mrs. Robert Willis and Mrs. Galen Koehn, Newton, Kans .; and Mrs. Daniel Epp, Toccoa, Ga .; 8 grandchildren; 1 brother, Franz J. Wiens, Paraguay; and 1 sister, Mrs. John Harder, Hepburn, Sask. In his last illness, he often spoke of the joyful home in heaven and asked everyone to meet him there. He is not dead - just went home. The funeral took place in the memorial hall. Mrs. Robert Willis and Mrs. Galen Koehn, Newton, Kans .; and Mrs. Daniel Epp, Toccoa, Ga .; 8 grandchildren; 1 brother, Franz J. Wiens, Paraguay; and 1 sister, Mrs. John Harder, Hepburn, Sask. In his last illness, he often spoke of the joyful home in heaven and asked everyone to meet him there. He is not dead - just went home. The funeral took place in the memorial hall.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Jun 7 p. 5

text of obituary:

The missionary PJ Wiens died at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital at 1:31 o'clock early this morning (Thursday). Missionary Vienna is widely known here and in India, where he served for about 30 years. He was taken to the hospital during the forepart of last week. Funeral Services wants to be on Monday, at 1:30 PM at the home, 312 East Fifth street, and at 2:30 PM at Memorial Hall on the Bethel College campus. It has been requested by the public, but that is intended to be given to foreign missions. Besides Mrs. Wiens, five children survive, all of whom will attend the funeral, except Rudolph, who is in Iraq.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Jun 14 p. 1, 8

text of obituary:

Career of Long Missionary Service Comes To A Close

An outstanding life of missionary work and service in India as well as in the homeland, came to a close early Thursday morning, June 7, when Rev. PJ Wiens, 68, Bethel Deaconess Hospital, where he had been a patient for eight days. Rev. Wien's was able to be about his duties at the Conference Historical Library at Bethel College until only a few weeks before his death.

Funeral services at Memorial Hall at North Newton on Monday afternoon were just attended by relatives and friends who came to show their respect for the departed minister and friend.

The services at the home were conducted by Rev. JE Entz and Rev. DJ Unruh, while the sermons at Memorial Hall were preached by dr. PP Wedel of Moundridge, president of the General Conference, Foreign Mission Board, and dr. PA Penner, veteran missionary in India and many years associate of Rev. Wiens. Others participating in the services were Rev. Lester Hostetler, dr. PH Richert, Rev. WF Unruh, and Dr. med. CH Suckau, who officiated at the graveside.

Pall Bearers were Rev. WC Voth, Rev. Karl Friesen, Rev. JJ Voth, Rev. JF Moyer, dr. C. Krahn and Rev. HP Jantzen.

All of the children and their families, except Rudolph who is in Iraq, were present for the funeral.

Peter Jacob of Vienna, son of Jacob J. and Marie Quapp of Vienna, what born at New Schoensee near Kherson in South Russia on April 15, 1877. He attended the village school and then helped his father and brothers on their farm until the year 1896 when he entered the newly organized "Central School."

In this high school among other things he studied Bible and German in preparation for missionary work. Bethel College, Bethlehem, New York, Germany. He enrolled in the college in 1900 and made many lifelong friends while there and continued his preparation at the Missionary Training Institute of Brooklyn, New York, in 1904 and 1905.

An urgent call from the Mission Board of the General Conference of the Mennonite Church of NA has caused him to cut short his studies. He married his fiancee, Agnes Harder, whom he had met while at Bethel College, and then proceeded at once to India. After a letter honeymoon in South Russia, he reached India on August 16, 1906, to begin a long period of fruitful work in the field of the General Conference Mission in the Central Province.

He was stationed at Champa until 1911 when he moved 24 miles south to Mauhadi. From then until 1937, with the exception of the year 1928 when he and his family were stationed at Basna, he devoted his entire energy to building up this large station with its extensive evangelistic, medical, and educational work. In addition to supervising the building of many substantial station buildings, it is said that people are in need of medical attention.

He returned to America on furlough in 1915 and 1925, and again in 1937, but health problems prevented his going back to India for a fourth term of service. During each furlough and in 1937 and 1938, he traveled among the churches of the General Conference in America, telling people of the mission in India. He loved the people of India and would gladly have returned to spend his last years among them.

During the conference, the Mennonite Central Committee visited the Historical Library, sorting, classifying, storing and checking it.

He loved the Lord and gave his life to God and dedicated himself to the service of the Savior. He was diligent in all church and Sunday School work. He was fond of music and singing which made it easier to gain the hearts of the Indian people and to carry the burden of life.

He leaves to mourn his divorced wife, five children - Ferdinand J. of Portland, Oregon; Rudolph P. who is in Iraq; Mrs. Robert Willis and Mrs. Galen Koehn of Newton; and Mrs. Dan Epp of Toccoa, Georgia - eight grandchildren, a brother, Frank J. Vienna, of Paraguay, and a sister, Mrs. John Harder of Hepburn, Saskatchewan, Canada.

During his last illness, he was in Heaven and urged to meet him. He is not dead - he has only gone home.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Jun 28 p. 1