Wilferd Ralph Thiessen

Wilferd’s life began on March 27, 1932, the son of Jacob Edgar and Marie (Wiebe) Thiessen in Newton, Kansas. He graduated from Berean Academy in 1950 and went onto graduate from Grace Bible College in Omaha, Nebraska. He married Gladys Evelyn Kracht on June 15, 1954 in Creighton, Nebraska. Wilferd and Gladys ministered all across Latin America from 1964-2010. He also taught at Rio Grande Institute in Texas for 10 years. He was an evangelistic chalk artist and used his talent to share the gospel. He enjoyed riding horses, playing the piano and wood carving.

His loving family includes his wife, Gladys of Whitewater; his sons and their wives, Randy and Connie Thiessen of Whitewater, Gary and Monica Thiessen of Burns, Kansas; daughter and her husband, LaVonna and Dr. Greg Schmid of Phoenix, Arizona; 18 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Henry and Edgar Thiessen and a sister, Martha Thiessen. Wilferd passed away peacefully on Friday, October 16, 2020 at the age of 88 years old.

His family will gather with friends on Friday, October 23, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 11:00 a.m. both at Whitewater Community Church, 703 E. Central, Whitewater. Graveside services will be Saturday, October 24, at 9:30 a.m. in the Old Emmaus Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Cornerstone Bible Institute in Hot Springs, South Dakota. In care of Lamb Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358, Whitewater, Kansas 67154. In the memo line add: Adam and Chelsey Lair. Please sign his online guest book and leave a memory of Wilferd at www.ymzfh.com