Ernie Thiessen passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. He is survived by his loving family: his wife Margaret; his children Jeff and Donna Thiessen, Joanne and Myron Thiessen Martens, and Jennifer Thiessen and Ben Reimer; his grandchildren Michael, Derek, and Sara Thiessen, and Anna and Jonas Martens; his siblings Anne Toews, Cathy Epp, Susan Thiessen, MaryAnn and Herman Hartzler, Hank and Sally Thiessen, David and Audrey Thiessen, Ed and Liz Thiessen, and many cherished nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, brother and sister-in-law JD and Maye Thiessen, sister-in-law Lynn Thiessen, brother-in-law Alfred Toews, brother-in law Henry Epp, and sister Jean in infancy.

Ernie was born on December 22, 1943, to Jacob S. and Maria Thiessen. In 1945, the family moved from Bear Creek near Gladstone to a brick house just east of Austin. Ernie attended Austin Elementary School, obtained a GED and became a licenced mechanic. In 1965, he attended Elim Bible School in Altona where he met Margaret Dueck. Ernie and Margaret were married on August 3, 1968, at the Lowe Farm Bergthaler Church and moved to Portage la Prairie where Ernie continued his work as shop foreman at Tecza Ford, and Margaret taught at Fort la Reine School.

Ernie and Margaret were sent by MCC to work as volunteers in rural Kentucky in 1969. Ernie’s work was vehicle upkeep and community development, working with youth and poverty-stricken coal miners. These were excellent years where he gained confidence in his many gifts and responsibilities. Upon returning to Manitoba, Ernie and Margaret bought a farm south-east of Austin and purchased some beef cattle. The first years were filled with many hard times, but Ernie was not one to give up.

In the 1970s, three children were added to the family, Jeffrey, Joanne and Jennifer. Ernie loved being with the kids and enjoyed seeing them grow up and develop their own interests and work. He was eager to help them with their projects and they were eager to accept his good advice. Their graduations, weddings and special events were a source of much pride and joy.

The coming of the grandchildren in the early 2000s was a new exciting stage. They shared so many interests such as the farm pets, delight in nature and conservation, reading, computers, and hard work. He loved seeing them graduate high school, CMU, University, and pursuing musical involvements that he had never had opportunity to do.

Ernie loved farming, working the land and working with the seasons. He loved our neighbourhood and the good relationships with others, old and young. In recent years, he was proud that every building on the farm had been replaced, his Angus herd was thriving, and crops were so much better. He also had many hobbies and talents. He got into watch and clock repair and restored many antique and heirloom clocks. He enjoyed woodworking, construction, metal work, and repairs of all kinds. He enjoyed a challenging puzzle, as well as camping and exploring new places. His idea of retirement was to continue to farm and to work at his projects and hobbies.

Faith was an important part of everyday life. Each child, in-law and grandchild got prayed for every day, as well as the church, friends and political figures. He enjoyed working with difficult biblical passages and researching various interpretations. He loved the wonders of nature so much, from the birth of the new calves, to finding a new fawn in the bush, a nest of geese on a round bale, a batch of little kittens in their hiding place and the companionship of his dogs. He loved lady slippers and other wildflowers and would bring home bouquets of saskatoon blossoms and canola branches.

Ernie was baptized in the Austin EMMC church. Later, Ernie and Margaret attended the MacGregor Bergthaler Church, Portage Mennonite Church, and the MacGregor EMC. Ernie spent 25 years on the board of Carberry Bible Camp and he and Margaret worked on MCC SOOP projects in Kentucky doing housing repair for poor families.

Ernie was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 2024. He then had emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction from a tumour and was given an ostomy bag. A successful ostomy reversal surgery took place on March 11, 2025, but due to complications during recovery he experienced cardiac arrest and passed away quietly at the Health Sciences Centre on March 20 with the whole family at his side. In recent months he had become more vocal about being ready to die, if that was God’s will for him.

We are very grateful for the excellent care he received at PGH and HSC. We are also so thankful to Cancer Care for all their help and advice. We are so grateful for the many prayers on our behalf, and for the practical help on the farm during this time, as well as food and flowers in these last weeks. We trust in God’s eternal presence for the challenges of each day