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Johann Jacob Wiens (1891-1971), son of Jacob J. Wiens (1862-1919) and Helena Enns (1868-1898), married Helena Wiens (1899-1984), daughter of Johann P. Wiens (1872-1931) and Helena Fast (1875-1963), in Slavgorad, Asiatic Russia in 1919. With three children they left their home and flour mill in Novo Pokrovka, situated 100 km north of Omsk on the Irtysch River in Siberia in 1926, and became new immigrants to Canada. For Johann Jacob Wiens, it meant leaving all his siblings in the Soviet Union, and for the rest of his life, only fostering a relationship with them through letter writing. In Canada, where he worked in the flour mill in Moden, Manitoba, another 5 children were born to them. From 1937 to 1956, all contact with the relatives in the Soviet Union ceased. Some starved, some died in exile and in labour camps, some survived. Johann Wiens' struggle with tuberculosis and time in the Ninette Sanitorium in 1939 seemed minor, compared to what his relatives in the home country experienced. Helena and Johann J. Wiens celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1969 with all of their children, spouses and 34 grandchildren. Johann died on 29 May, 1971 and is buried in Morden, Manitoba.

This Wiens family begins traces its history back to Herman Wiens (b. ca. 1731), their earliest known ancestor who lived in Czattkau, Prussia, and had a number of children including these three that have a further documented hsitory -- Agatha (1764-1839), Jacob (1767-1845) and Peter (1770-?). Peter was a teacher in Czattkau, Prussia and started an arithmetic book used as a textbook in his teaching. The book was augmented with multihued fraktur artwork. According to the family Peter Wiens one day disappeared without a trace.

Peter’s older brother Jacob Wiens (1767-1845) joined the Mennonite migration to Russia in 1795 and settled in the village of Schoenhorst, Chortitza Colony. His first wife, Sara Dicken, died in 1795. They had one daughter, Maria (1792-1815). Jacob Wiens then married Sara Brandt (1772-1861) in December 1795. Jacob and Sara had 14 children, 7 of which survived into adulthood. Between 1809 and 1814 the family moved from Schoenhorst to the village of Osterwick. Jacob became relatively well-to-do, owning farm properties #14 and # 5 (Wirtschaften). In 1824 he is listed as having 23 mature rams, 4 young rams, and 14 lambs. Jacob was wealthy enough to lend money to various people and he kept a record of these debts. After he died in 1845, his son Jacob (1816-1888) collected the outstanding debts.

Jacob Wiens jr. (1816-1888) was born in the village of Osterwick, Chortitza Colony and baptized on May 20, 1835. In 1836 he married Katherina Klassen (1817-1885). Jacob was a school teacher in Osterwick and in 1841 moved to the village of Kronsthal where he continued to teach. In 1844 Jacob purchased half a Wirtschaft from Hermann Neufeld for 1000 rubles. Jacob continued the practice of journaling and filled the last half of the book started by his uncle Peter Wiens.

In June 1876 Jacob Wiens immigrated to Canada, settling his family in the village of Hoffnungsfeld, Manitoba in the Mennonite West Reserve (near current day Winkler, Manitoba). Jacob recorded his immigration experience. While in Hoffnugsfeld Jacob became a "news correspondent" for the community and submitted regular letters to Mennonitische Rundschau, a weekly newspaper widely read by Mennonites in Europe and North America. Jacob Wiens died July 9, 1888 in Hoffungsfeld, Manitoba.

Nettie Kroeker (1900-1989), a granddaughter of Jacob Wiens (1816-1888), published parts of the Wiens writings.