Willard John Wiebe

Willard J. Wiebe, age 90, of Whitewater, KS, passed away Thursday, May 1, 2025. He was born to John H. and Martha A. (Claassen) Wiebe on March 12, 1935. The youngest of five siblings—Helen, Eldon, Howard, and Agnes—he grew up on the family farm, where he developed a deep love for agriculture. From an early age, he enjoyed time on the tractor and took many trips helping haul cattle.

Willard went to Berean Academy for 2 years, then graduated from Whitewater High School in 1953.When he was a young man during the Korean war, he chose to be a conscientious objector and completed 1-W service as a nurse aide at Evanston Hospital in Illinois. It was there, among a community of Mennonite youth, that he met Mary Ann Goertz of Goessel, Kansas. While they met in Evanston, it was after their return to Kansas that they dated and he anxiously proposed. They were married October 16, 1959, at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel.

In the early years of their marriage times difficult as the farm struggled. When his father decided to retire, Willard bought the farm and house from him. Together with MaryAnn he raised wheat, milo (sorghum), soybeans, corn, cattle, hogs and sold Vigortone feeds for a time. He read many farming magazines and was always looking for a better way to do things. With their hard work the farm became profitable again and he was able to expand the operation.

In February of 1970, they adopted a 2 ½ week old baby girl and named her Teresa Ann. In May of 1973, they adopted 10 ½ month old Christopher Jon. The family was involved in church, school, and 4-H. Mary Ann and the kids helped with farm life, mowing, and driving tractor and truck when needed. Willard bought a camper when the kids were in grade school and the family took many vacations in it.

Willard served his community as a longtime board member of Rural Water District #7 and sang for many years with the Mennonite Men’s Chorus, traveling out of state several times. One of the highlights of his life was the 2007 “Great Trek” tour to Europe, tracing the ancestral roots of the Mennonite faith. Willard and Mary Ann were devoted members of Grace Hill Mennonite Church.

When asked what his hobby was, farming was always the answer. He spoke fondly of long hours driving the tractor or combine and being outside with the cattle doing what he loved. Willard was able to fix or build about any machinery or tools he needed. He was often in the shed welding on a new project he designed during the winter. He also learned how to use a computer to keep the farm books and got a smart phone to keep up on the markets and check the radar.

He planted wheat in the fall of 2024, and wanted to get one last corn crop in before he became ill in March. Just after his 90th birthday he developed pneumonia and fluid around his lung. Imaging of the lungs also revealed a pancreatic mass during this time and he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. In late April he returned to the hospital with a bowel obstruction and was told nothing more could be done for him. He returned to Wheat State Manor and chose hospice services.

Preceding him are his wife, Mary Ann Wiebe; sister Helen and brother-in-law Willard Friesen; brothers Eldon Wiebe and Howard Wiebe, Sr.; and brother-in-law Edgar Harder.

Survivors include his daughter Teresa Martin (James Martin) of Hays, KS; his son Chris and Catina Wiebe of McPherson, KS. Survivors also include grandchildren Elizabeth and Daniel Schrandt of Glasco, KS; Kadie Martin of Raleigh, NC; Alston Cunningham of McPherson, KS; and Adrian Wiebe of McPherson, KS; great-grandchildren MaryAnn and William Schrandt of Glasco, KS; sister Agnes Harder of Whitewater, KS, friend Elaine Claassen of Whitewater, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials to Mennonite Missions Network.

The memorial service will be Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 11:00 am at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, rural Whitewater, KS. Burial will be at the Grace Hill Cemetery at 10:00 am.