Dave Thiessen, longtime resident of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at the QEII Hospital in Grande Prairie at the age of 88 years.

Dave was born in Coaldale, AB on November 28, 1930, to Isaak and Katherina Thiessen and grew up on a dairy farm in the Coaldale/Lethbridge area. He completed Grade 12 at the Alberta Mennonite High School and then attended Coaldale Bible School, where he met his future wife, Flora Schmidt.

After moving to Grande Prairie to seek work, on October 3, 1953, Dave began a long and rewarding career at “the plywood plant” (Northern Plywoods, later named Canadian Forest Products Ltd./Canfor). Starting as a labourer, he progressed through several different supervisory positions during his 37 years of employment and was the General Manager of Plywood and Hines Creek Divisions at the time of his retirement in March 1990.

On June 9, 1954, Dave married Flora Schmidt of La Glace, AB, and in 1956 they purchased Flora’s grandfather’s farm east of Grande Prairie where they raised their 3 children (Donna, Ken and Joan) in a home filled with love, laughter, and a strong Christian faith. They faithfully attended McLaurin Baptist Church and were involved in Camp Wapiti.

Dad was hard-working and managed to balance the demands of both a full-time job and farming. We have warm memories of working and playing together on the farm and enjoying the many blessings of country living with extended family and friends.

Dad also took pleasure in traveling, reading, collecting coins, and he enjoyed music. He was blessed with an excellent memory for names, details of events, and songs and poems; as a family we treasure his recollections.

Dad invested a lot of time in the lives of his children and grandchildren and, in his later years, nothing brought him more joy than spending time with or hearing about the latest antics of his “13 Little People” (his great-grandchildren).

Throughout his life, Dad was a true gentleman who was both kind and generous. He was a good listener, a wise advisor, had an excellent sense of humour, and he valued “doing it right the first time.”

Loving husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa, Dave leaves many loved ones to mourn his passing and to carry on his legacy, including his 3 children: Donna (Rob) Siebert, Ken (Linda) Thiessen, and Joan (Barry) Banks; 5 grandchildren: Tyler (Lana) Siebert, Lexie (Geoff) Brown, Carston (Sharon) Siebert, Nathan (Elizabeth) Thiessen, and Travis Banks (Andrea Price); and 13 great-grandchildren: Reagan and Jayla Siebert; Myron, Carter, Dawson, Kenton, and Quinna Brown; Broden and Ryler Lebrun, Denvyr and Stetson Siebert; and Kenny and Kaden Thiessen. He will also be dearly missed by his surviving siblings: Helen Friesen and George (Dora) Thiessen, and by a caring circle of extended family and friends.

Welcoming him home in heaven are his loving wife of 53 years, Flora, his parents and 7 siblings, and many other cherished family members.

A Memorial Service with lunch to follow will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 11:00am at McLaurin Baptist Church in Grande Prairie (10913 107 Ave.).

Memorial donations may be made to Camp Wapiti (C/O McLaurin Baptist Church, 10913 107 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 7P9), Peace River Bible Institute (Box 99, Sexsmith, AB, T0H 3C0), or charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.oliversfuneralhome.com

• Date : 2019-01-21

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