a PEOPLE Former Belleville minister dies in Fort Erie A popular and well known former member of Belleville's religious commu- nity died Thursday, Jan. 16. Rev. Elmer Thiessen was pastor at Quinte Alliance Church on Bridge Street West from 1979 to 1993 before moving to Fort Erie, Ont. Pauline Roswell, who is secretary to Quinte Alliance Church Rev. David Smith, worked as Rev. Thiessen's secre- tary for four years before he left the area. She says Rev. Thiessen was "a very, very special person. He was very much loved by people. "He's a person they (congregation members) still talk about," she noted Friday. "He was a very compassionate man. He was a man who was very much loved by the people because he visited in their homes. And then if there was an emergency in the hospi- tal, he was always there." Owen Thomas, who was chair of the combined boards of administration and elders for Quinte Alliance Church when Rev. Thiessen came to Belleville, recalls he was "very interested in sports" and had coached a children's hockey team. Thomas also recalls the minister kept abreast of current affairs and was an "avid reader." Rev. Elmer Thiessen f "He was very people-oriented and very concerned for the welfare of everyone." The Quinte Alliance Church's seniors program for fellowship began during his time at the church. Rev. Thiessen leaves wife, Lucille, and two grown children, Valerie Winberg and her husband Steve, and Kevin and his wife Debbie. He is also survived by four grandchildren. Rev. Thiessen first ministered in 1961 in Rolla, B.C. Following that he minis- tered in Terrace B.C., Stoney Plain and Spruce Grove, Alta., and Burnaby, B.C. He came to Belleville in 1979 where he was instrumental in moving the church from 33 Moira St. West to its current and larger facility on Marshall Road. In 1993 he moved to Fort Erie to become pastor of the Christian Mission- ary Alliance Church there. Visitation will be Sunday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Belleville Funeral Home and Chapel, 68 North Front St. Service will be Monday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. in Quinte Alliance Church. \C\