John Wiebe has passed on to the next part of his journey. He has joined his dear wife Carol to dance in the sunlight, starlight and rain.

He was raised by Mennonite parents in missionary India. John had a deep faith, striving to live by the teachings of Jesus, in Matthew chapter 5. This “third culture kid” often struggled to reconcile the values of three or four different cultures, particularly the contrasting values of compassion and generosity with the materialism of this wealthy nation. He and Carol gave their services and resources to their communities across the continents over all their years together.

John spent much of his life teaching environmental stewardship. He lived and taught the values of frugality and care for the earth. The students he taught in India, Saudi Arabia, Uganda and the United States remember the lessons he taught them to this day. The later part of his life was dedicated to preserving old growth forests in Humboldt County. Many people have appreciated his letters to the editors over the years, exhorting all of us to be more watchful about how we leave our footprints on this fragile planet.

John embodied a love of life and immense creativity. His sculptures are known in the local artist community as well as in two Mennonite universities. He also dabbled in cartooning, adding to his witty tongue-in-cheek letters. Whimsy – there was always a bit of whimsy too.

John is survived by his younger siblings, David, Paul and Marilyn and their families and by his children, their spouses and progeny: Wendell and Laura, Roland and Carrie, (Rebecca) and Michael, Evelyn and Wallace.

Shortly before he died he said, “I love life! I love you all. Just to take a breath is incredible. We are so lucky to be here. You have to enjoy the small precious things in life.”

John Clement Wiebe, August 17, 1930, to September 23, 2025.

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