Alvin Hiebert was born to Frank and Agnes Hoeppner Hiebert on June 22, 1915, in Hillsboro, Kan. He passed away peacefully with his family around him on March 23, 2013, reaching the age of 97 years. His passing came after a short battle with cancer.

His early childhood was spent on the farm working hard during the depression time to save the family farm. He enjoyed the outdoors and his livestock, spending his life farming and raising cattle. He enjoyed going to the livestock auctions and bringing home young calves to nurture and watch grow. He was not scared of hard work and tried not to let anything get him down.

He was baptized on April 22, 1935, by Minister A. G. Ensz. To these vows, he endeavored to be true.

On October 8, 1944, he was joined in marriage to Leah Friesen. They made their home in Hillsboro,  moving to Walnut Hill, Fla. in 1967 and then settling in Molino, Fla. in 1968. Their home was blessed with three sons. They enjoyed life together for 51 years before she was taken suddenly in a tragic farm accident.

He was very lonely but continued on enjoying reasonably good health until the last while when he started to slowly lose strength. He retired from farming after mom’s death but continued to raise cattle as his “hobby.” He enjoyed seeing the young calves come running to the feed bunk when he called them.

He enjoyed the message of song and often sang for his devotions. His song book has many songs marked that were special to him. His voice was often heard in church as he sang from the heart. One of his favorite songs was “Count Your Blessings” and a fond memory for many was the time he sang it as a solo at a Thanksgiving service. His nurses commented that he often would be singing when they checked on him in the early morning hours.

The last several months as he realized his time was getting short, he often spoke of a desire to do the Lord’s will and to be of use in His kingdom. His spirit was soft and he left us with an assurance that he was at peace with his Maker.

His parents; wife; an infant brother; two sisters; one sister-in-law; one granddaughter; and one great granddaughter preceded him in death.
Those left to cherish memories are his sons, Lee (Cindy), Chris (Denise), both of Atmore and Henry (Polly) of Molino; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five great – great grandchildren; two sisters, Edna Eck of  Copeland, Kan. and Frieda Litwiller of Montezuma, Kan.; brothers-in-law, Jonah (Dianna) Nickel of Greenville, N.C., Robert (Betty) Martens of Inman, Kan, Herb (Nora) Friesen of Aberdeen, Miss.; sisters-in -law, Bernettie (Abe) Loewen of Emelle, Clara Koehn of Livingston, Calif., Mabel (Jim) Cryon, of Reno, Nev.; and a host of nephews, nieces and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today, March 27, 2013, from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church with Ministers Wilbert Peters, Mike Koehn and Carlos Koehn officiating. Burial will follow in the Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation was held from 6  until 8 p.m. Tuesday evening March 26, 2013, from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

A special thanks to the nursing staff at the Life Care Center and at Covenant Hospice Residence for their special care of dad during his last several months. Your special touch made life brighter in the twilight of his time here on earth.

Auf weidersehen, PaPa (till we meet again).

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.