Obituary of Ernest Gerhard Wiens

Wiens, Ernest (Ernie) G.

On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, Ernie passed peacefully from the arms of those he loved, to the arms of his Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Ernie was born at the Niagara-on-the-lake Cottage Hospital, September 24, 1945. Ernie grew up on a farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake, in a loving, hard-working Christian home.  He worked hard on the family farm and in the family’s meat shop. After finishing at Virgil Public School, Ernie went on to Eden Christian College, and from there went to Winkler Bible School in Manitoba.  The life-long friends he made and the experiences he had at Winkler were treasured gifts to him.   Ernie often said that the Biblical knowledge he gained in Bible School helped to guide him through his life.

When he returned from Bible School, Ernie joined his parents full-time on the family farm.  In 1969, he married his dark-haired sweetheart, Susan, and they started life together in a little house across the road from his parents’ farm.  In short time, first Audrey, then Denise arrived, completing their family.  Ernie was always happiest outside, and took great pleasure in taking care of his land, house, and vehicles. Ernie was one of the first in NOTL to own a mechanized grape harvester and offered custom grape picking and trucking, the 2019 season of which he continued to manage from his hospital bed.  In addition to farming, Ernie was a successful real estate agent for more than 25 years, and took great pleasure in helping people find the homes or land they were looking for.  In 1996, Ernie started an equipment sales company, which he also continued to run from his hospital bed now in 2020.  The ways in which his friends and family came around him to help with the harvest were a blessing to him.  His long-time employee, Henry Friesen, he often said, was like another son to him, and helped to keep the farm running smoothly.

Ernie’s passing has left a gaping hole in his family’s and friends’ lives, but we know his pain and suffering are over.  Predeceased by his parents, Martin & Frieda Wiens and his brother-in-law Dave Enns, he leaves to mourn his loving wife Susan, cherished children Audrey and Kevin Wall, Denise and Brad Dingman, and grandchildren, Olivia Wall and her boyfriend Milan Mastracci, Sam Wall and his fiancé Hannah Daley, Zach Dingman and Bridgette Dingman and their little dog Mopsy, to whom he always slipped little treats from the table when he thought no one was looking.  Also mourning Ernie are his sisters, Elly & Ian Schroeder, Liz Enns, Helen & Jerry Hildebrand, and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. 

We mourn, but not as those without hope.

Visitation will be held at Cornerstone Community Church – Orchard Campus, 434 Hunter Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Sunday, January 19, 2-4 and 6-8 pm.  Funeral service will be held Monday, January 20, also at Cornerstone Community Church – Orchard Campus, 10:00 am. Interment service at Niagara Lakeshore Cemetery, Lakeshore Road, NOTL following the funeral service, and a light lunch reception at the church after the interment. 

Donations in Ernie’s memory may be made to Ravi Zacharias International Ministries at rzim.ca, David Jeremiah – Turning Point Ministries at davidjeremiah.org, or Camp Crossroads at campcrossroads.com