Although Paul Sieber spent much of his time providing for his family through farming and pastoral work, he realizes the benefits of spending time with his children.
When Sieber married his longtime friend, Martha in 1943, they worked on his family farm before moving to work on a farm for a business man. Shortly after their first son was born, Sieber purchased a farm.
Sieber was not able to attend college during WWII when, as a Mennonite, he was a conscientious objector to the war, and was able to help his father on the family farm in Northern Illinois. After his two oldest sons were born, Sieber decided to go to school.
Shortly after he sold the farm, the head of the Mission Board at his local church asked him to operate a children’s home in Ohio. Still wanting to complete school, Sieber and his wife packed up their three kids to visit Ohio for the summer.
Upon arrival, Sieber realized the facility the children were living in was run down. Sieber stayed in Ohio with his family for five years. They lived in a small apartment within the children’s home.
While there, Sieber and his wife had two more children. At 27 years old, with five children of their own, and 40 orphans, he purchased clothing in bulk at Montgomery Ward.
Sieber said, “I had a stack of jeans on the counter, and a young lady, another shopper came along.” She said, ‘You must have a big family.” I said, Yes, we have 18 boys and 22 girls.”
While this experience was wonderful for his family, Sieber feels that he neglected his own children while caring for the others, too.
After their stay at the children’s home was over, Sieber finished school in Ohio while working as a carpenter.
“I had a wonderful wife who took everything in stride,” he said. “She took care of the family while I worked and went to school. I was tired and worn out.”
Sieber received an assignment to serve a new congregation in Northern Illinois, bringing them closer to his hometown. Because they only received an offering once a month, Sieber purchased a farm to provide for his family.
With 100 head of cattle, 40 milk cows and land, Sieber’s family worked together. When Sieber went away for days to work at other churches, his sons were able to take care of the farm.
His youngest son was not big enough to do a lot of things on the farm when they purchased it, but he took care of the calves with the cows were being milked. Sieber could supervise him while they were there.
“We did so many things together,” he said. “It’s a wonderful experience growing up and working together as a family.”
Although Sieber felt he should have spent some of the time he did proving himself as a farmer or a pastor should have been spent with his children, he saw the fruits of their relationships as his children got older.
“My oldest son was on the school softball team. We would finish up chores when he would go his game. We finished up the chores, and went to the front yard to play crochet. He was going down the driveway to leave, and he pulled off to the side. He said, ‘I’m going to play crochet with you guys.”
While the children were young, Sieber had a chance to work on a 14,000 farm for his brother-in-law in South Carolina.
“That might have been a good thing financially, but it wasn’t good for our family,” he said. “I was fearful what would happen to my family at that age going into a totally new community where they didn’t know anyone.”
With two sons in college, and his daughter ready to graduate high school, Sieber took a call to serve at a church in Arthur where the family would receive more financial support. With a congregation of 200, Sieber decided not to farm in Arthur.
Sieber spent a lot of time building relationships with people in his congregation. He feels that he neglected his youngest son. He said that none of his children rebelled against them, though, and that they all respect his wife and him wife very much.
After retirement, Sieber purchased a house in Bondville. His second oldest son purchased the house behind them. Sieber feels that through Sunday night picnics and games with his children and grandchildren, he was able to make-up for time lost when they were younger.
Sieber had enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow into adults. He believes his role of guidance continues today.
“Grandpa and Grandma have a big place, too,” he said. “What we stand for, the times that we have with them, do they know what we really love and care for them? Or does it make a difference what grandpa thinks?”
Sieber has 16 great-grandchildren who live all over the country.
In April, Sieber celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary.
“Children learn so much from the attitude of their parents,” he said. “Mom and dad aren’t always going to see the same. But for the children to see how you do relate to each other, and the attitude that you have towards each other.”
