DR. ARTHUR GEORGE WIEBE

March 26, 2025

Dr. Arthur George Wiebe of Kincardine, died suddenly at home, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, after a lengthy illness, at the age of 74. His family wishes he could have lived longer but is grateful he didn’t suffer for long. Survived by his beloved wife, Janice McKean; his children, Matthew, Philip (Laura), and Sabrina (Mathieu); and the mother of his children, Teresa. He was a wise stepfather to Emily and Garth (Cori). Born and raised in St. Catharines, he was the eldest son of George and Eva Wiebe (both deceased). He is also survived by his brother, Larry (Karen); sister, Lorraine (Darrell); and brother-in-law, Ross (Mark). He was ‘Opa’ to six grandchildren: Kaya, Eira, Lea, Astrid, Ben, and Annika. His family belonged to the Reform Mennonite Community of the Niagara area and western Canada, where he still has many relatives. Art trained as a family doctor at the University of Ottawa, from 1971 to 1975. He also became a French speaker in this bilingual community. His first practice was in Nipigon, from 1975 to 1982. The family then moved to Deep River, from 1982 to 1987. His final move was to Kincardine, where he practised as a family doctor, emergency doctor, and coroner for the area, retiring in 2024. In more than 45 years of being a doctor, Art estimated he had helped deliver more than 800 babies. Many of these babies have now had their own children, for whom he continued to care. The care of several generations was a great joy to him. Throughout his life, Art participated in various sports, including triathlons, marathons, rowing, and cross-country skiing. In the 1990s, he became one of Canada’s first certified sports medicine doctors and spent some time travelling in Europe with the Junior National Cross-Country Ski Team as team doctor. He also loved music. He played the trumpet in tje high school band, sang with the Kincardine Community Singers, and at the Kincardine Summer Music Festival, he sang with his children and grandchildren. He had a deep passion for God’s creation – the earth upon which we live. He was intrigued by God’s creatures, large and small. This passion bloomed when he and Janice moved to The Ark, a 44-hectare farm, a 10-minute drive from the hospital. There, they bred ‘Les Canadiens’ (our national horse), grew native plants for the restoration of gravel pits on the property, and harvested so many gooseberries, potatoes, and asparagus that their bounty helped launch Kincardine’s Saturday Morning Farmers’ Market. They also operated a bed-and-breakfast for 20 years. They donated their farmland to an Ontario Land Trust: The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy. The family thanks all of you in the community who have poured your love and compassion on us as we grieve the loss of our beloved father, husband, Opa, doctor, and friend. The funeral will be held Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Kincardine United Church. Donations to the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy or Mennonite Central Committee (emergency relief) would be appreciated by the Wiebe family, as expressions of sympathy; arrangements entrusted to the Davey-Linklater Funeral Home, Kincardine; www.daveylinklaterfuneralhome.com.