Obituary of John Elias

May 27, 1916 – November 11, 2013 John Elias was born in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, on May 27, 1916, the 8th of 13 children of Peter J. Elias and Sarah Dyck. He grew up on the family homestead during the pioneering days of the settlement at Rosthern which had begun in 1891. The “dirty thirties” and World War II brought hardships, but John and his parents, sisters and brothers were inventive, hard-working, and frugal, and managed well enough to share food and supplies with neighbours. On October 22, 1939, John married Maria Wiebe, and together they established a mixed farm just a mile NE of the original family homestead. They were blessed with seven healthy children who married and brought their spouses into the family: Jacob (Lillian), John (Alma), Mary (Barry Willoughby), Anna (Jerry Gedir), Frieda (Simon Brown), Peter (Barbara Jane), and Wesley (Bertha). Drought and hard times continued to challenge the family farm, but by careful management he provided well for the family. There was music and laughter, too. John was musically talented, self-taught, singing and playing the violin, guitar, mandolin, and then the autoharp, an instrument which became his trademark in later years. Most important through all these years was John’s faith. He was a committed, faithful, and generous contributor to the church, first the Bergthal Mennonite Church situated on the Elias homestead, then the Rosthern Mennonite Church. Throughout his life he led the family in faith and prayer. All went well for the family until John‚s wife, Maria, died of cancer in 1980. John loved her dearly, cared for her lovingly through her last days, and was heartbroken after her untimely death at the age of 61 years. Soon he had a new love in his life. In 1982 he married Anna Dyck, and her three children and their spouses, MaryAnn (Mitch Takata), Wesley (Sharon) Dyck, and Dorothy (Reg Martin) became part of his family. Towards the end of their 21 years, Anna became seriously disabled with Parkinson‚s disease, and again John devoted himself to caring for her. At the age of 90, still strong and eager for life, John found another partner and married Tina Hiebert in 2006. This brought five more children into the family: David (Vicki Derak), Anita Franko, Lisa (Donavon Wyse), Gerald (Sharon), and Vernon (Lori). John was predeceased by his first wife Maria, the mother of his children, in 1980; his second wife Anna in 2003; his father Peter in 1960 and his mother Sarah in 1961; eleven siblings — two sisters, Sarah and Aganetha and one brother Cornelius who died in infancy, Helena (Klassen Friesen), Peter, Sarah (Bergen), Katharina (Bergen), Isaak, Anna (Funk), Jacob, and Margaret (Penner); the spouses of all but one of his married siblings; and one step daughter, Anita Franko. He is survived by his wife Tina; all seven of his children and their spouses; one sister Maria Zacharias; two sisters-in-law Elizabeth Elias and Tina Wiebe; seven step-children; 19 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 22 step-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. John was blessed with excellent health and extraordinary strength through most of his 97 years, 5 months, and 15 days. Even in recent months, as he grew weak and his mobility became limited, he remained coherent, connected with his family, able to pray, enjoy music and play the autoharp or sing or hum favourite hymns as the harp was played for him. After a long and full life, he went with joy to be received into God’s care on November 11, 2013. Viewing and sharing is to occur at Bethany Manor, 110 La Ronge Road, Saskatoon at 2:00 pm, Saturday, November 16. The funeral is to be at Rosthern Mennonite Church, Rosthern, at 2:00 pm, Sunday, November 17. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank through MCC Saskatchewan. ********************* Funeral arrangements are via Bryan Funk, Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern (phone 306-232-5245; fax 232-5385; e-mail funksfh@sasktel.net). Written by son, John Elias.