THIESSEN - John J. Thiessen, age 62, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Monday, April 18, 2011, at Cypress Regional Hospital, after a long and valiant battle with cancer.
Johnnie, his given name, was born on August 21, 1948,in Swift Current, SK, to John & Susan Thiessen, the middle of three boys. He and Ernie and Elmer were raised in an atmosphere of love and hard work. Gatherings with family and friends was an important part of life. Trips to visit family and with family were common but always planned around “the garden”. It took a lot of food to feed three boys and Dad, so Mom was diligent in growing and preserving produce from her large and carefully tended garden. Music was often involved....guitars, harmonicas, etc. with family and friends. He loved music and learned to play guitar well enough to form a small band with several friends. Their “jam” sessions were enjoyed by many. Many cousins provided plenty of opportunities for games and mischief. Summers were spent bike riding and swimming in the creek. Gordon Ens was a regular sidekick. John has always had a great sense of humor and he loved playing jokes. John made friends easily and had endless stories and jokes to keep you entertained. School was an experience John endured. Shop classes and friendships were the best part. He graduated Gr. 12 and said good-bye to school! He got a job working for Nelson Homes in Lloydminster and left home for the first time. Less than a year later he was back and got a job on the Sask Tel crew. He then worked as a linesman on the Leader line and Maple Creek for many years. He was often rebuked for working too fast. He just wanted to get home! In 1968, he bought his first new car..1968 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible. He always said he got a new car and a new girlfriend....a good year! He married his new girlfriend, Louella Arp, on May 16, 1970. They celebrated 40 years of marriage last year. This union was blessed with three children, Vince, Ryan and Dana; each one special and loved. Family was always most important to John. He worked many long hard hours to provide a good living for his family. He left Sask Tel to work for NOWSCO, an oilfield service company. The pay was good but the hours were lousy ! He spent many days and weeks working away from home. This made his time off very precious. Holidays were of highest priority. John also hauled fuel for Pioneer Coop for a number of years. During these years he spent many hours enlarging and renovating the house and yard…anything to keep mama happy! John learned to do most of the work himself and has an extensive collection of tools to prove it. When he was approached to return to Nowsco he did so gladly. Driving to Regina and back every day for years had lost it's appeal. Ken McLeary was John's kind of boss except for the golfing! John had a number of losses in his life. The sudden death of Dale Brucks, his best friend and fishing buddy, affected him deeply. The closing of the Nowsco shop in Swift Current and loss of a job he loved was a huge blow. He found satisfaction in driving school bus and then tour bus for Sun West Tours. The loss of several close relationships also saddened him deeply. John loved food and loved to eat. He was a good cook himself and breakfast was his specialty. He often complained that the drier was shrinking his clothes! John loved kids and enjoyed teasing and joking with them. Many kids at church remember him as the “Candy Man”. His pockets were always well stocked for such occasions. His grand kids were a great source of joy. He was able to share times with them that he had missed with his own kids. He especially loved when they came camping as well. He was greatly saddened to leave before they were grown. John's battle with cancer began in 2004. A rare type of thyroid cancer was found and removed. Several years of scans were clean but the cancer returned in 2009. His friends at the Husky and Hazey's were very important to him. It was always a good day when he went for coffee. He mourned the loss of his work. Being self employed gave him the freedom to work as much as he liked. He found his niche at Viterra and wished he could work again and often told people to be glad that they were able to work. John's faith never faltered...he appreciated all the prayers said on his behalf and believed he would beat this disease. A trip to Mexico for alternate treatment was planned. Unfortunately John became ill and was unable to complete all of the treatment. He was home for one day before a trip to the hospital resulted in admission, much to John's dismay. The cancer had spread farther. His concern for his family was expressed many times. One special evening as all his family were at his bedside he took the time to talk with each individual to ensure that they were all “right with the Lord”. He never lost hope or his sense of humor. John will be profoundly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Lou; son, Vince and children, Sam and Emily: son, Ryan and his son Matthew: daughter, Dana & Russell Dyck; brother, Ernie & Tammy and Brittany: brother, Elmer & Sharon - Todd and Kim, Jordan and Matthew -Tricia and Jamie Wallace; sister-in-law, Val Ferrari - Aaron and Karin- Gregory - Anthony, brother-in-law, Allan & Hlyke Arp – Rachelle – Benjamin – Brandon; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends…near and far. He was predeceased by his parents, John & Susan Thiessen. His passing has left an enormous hole in our lives but our loss is heaven's gain! The Funeral Service was held on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at 2:30 pm from the Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, SK with Pastor Bob Cappelle officiating. The prelude was played by pianist Karen Grand. “There’s Power in the Blood” was sung by the congregation under the direction of Menno Martens. The obituary and eulogy was brought by Cliff Janzen with tributes shared by grandchildren, Sam and Emily Thiessen and by a PowerPoint presentation. Special music was provided by Julie Chickoski, Kerry & Sheila Braun singing, “I Won’t Have to Cross Jordan Alone”. In Memory of John J. Thiessen, donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society or to the Allan Blair Cancer Patient Lodge, Regina, SK would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK