Obituaries
Abram P. Dueck
Abram P. Dueck passed away May 27. He was born Feb. 13, 1905 to Peter A. and Lena Dueck in Friedensfeld, Sagradowka, Russia. The family immigrated to Oak Bluff, Man. in 1926. He accepted Jesus in 1930 and was baptized in 1931, joining Springstein MB Church. He married Aganeta Paetkau in October, 1931. He enjoyed farming from 1935 until a stroke in 1985. He enjoyed being both church and school board secretary-treasurer. Extended family, travel and church activities gave him much joy. Predeceased by 2 brothers, 9 sisters and 1 great-grandchild, he is mourned by Aganeta, daughters Mary Penner and Kathie Dyck; sons Peter, Fred and Henry; 25 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 2 sisters.
Elizabeth Hamm
Elizabeth Hamm passed away Sept. 2. She was born May 5, 1901 in Tushee, Crimea, Russia to Henry and Mary Voth. The family moved to Buslashie when she was 4 and to Siberia when she was 8. They moved from Polodar to Rosenwald. She accepted the Lord in her teens, and was baptized June 19, 1916, joining the MB church in Schoental. She married Peter Hamm Jan. 28, 1919. They immigrated to Saskatchewan in 1925. In 1940, they moved to Abbotsford, B.C., where they farmed for 19 years, then retired to Clearbrook, B.C. They cared for many foster children over the years. She enjoyed sewing and knitting for the Red Cross. Her hands were never idle. She was a hard worker, yet still had time for others and gave much of herself to her family. Her prayer was that all her family would be ready to meet the Lord. She was a member of King Road MB Church in Abbotsford. Predeceased by Peter in 1990, daughter Mary Janzen in 1987, 2 infant children in Russia and 3 grandchildren, she is mourned by children Henry, Anne Epp, Jake, Peter, Cornie, Hilda Froese, Alfred, and Frieda Pope; 34 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren and 1 sister. The funeral was Sept. 5 at Woodlawn Chapel, Abbotsford, with Peter Dueck ministering.
John Harms
John Harms passed away Jan. 2. He was born Jan. 27, 1922 in Orenberg, Russia to John and Sara Harms. In 1926, he immigrated to Canada. He worked on farms and at lumber camps until age 24, when he took over the family farm. He married Helen Thiessen May 28, 1949. They farmed the original homestead near Bristol, Man. for 45 years. He was elected to the Hanover Municipal Council in 1956 and served as reeve 1959-1969. He served on the Lands Protection Board and the Bethesda Hospital Board. He was re-elected reeve for a final 9 years, earning a reputation for honesty, integrity and common sense. He enjoyed hunting and displayed his butchering talents at the Mennonite Village Museum in Steinbach, Man. Livestock and fields flourished under his care. He gave his heart to the Lord after a serious illness in 1991 and was baptized, joining Steinbach MB Church in November, 1992. They retired to Mitchell, Man. in 1994. They enjoyed travelling to the Dakotas and Alaska. They became actively involved in the Mitchell seniors' centre, where John loved to sing. Predeceased by 1 sister, he is mourned by Helen, daughters Della Hiebert, Doreen Penner, Dorothy Laurin and Daphne Harel; sons Dennis, Donald and Doug; 15 grandchildren; 2 sisters and 4 brothers. The funeral was Jan. 6 at Steinbach MB Church, with John Block ministering.
Thomas Bergen
Thomas Bergen passed away Jan. 14. He was born Mar. 31, 1916 in Hague, Sask. to Isaak and Katherine Bergen. He learned to sharpen saws. He married Katherine Olfert Nov. 5, 1938. Shortly after, he accepted the Lord. He held firm to his Christian convictions all his life. He worked in various factories, then became a miner. They moved to B.C. in 1957, where they picked fruit in the Okanagan valley. Then he returned to mining. They moved to Chilliwack, B.C. and he worked at the Hope Giant Mascot Mine. When the mine closed, he worked with the Chilliwack School Board. He took early retirement due to a back injury. He is remembered for his smile and gentle ways. Predeceased by sons Ron, Peter and Paul in infancy, he is mourned by Katherine, daughters Ruth Attrill, Debbie Biffert and Kathy Warkentin; sons Arnold, Jim, Wally, Sam, Murray and Ted; 29 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Agneta Schroeder
Agneta Schroeder passed away Jan. 21. She was born Mar. 26, 1897 to Heinrich and Anna Bartel in Swiniary, Gostynin, Poland. She married Jakob Schroeder Nov. 21, 1921. They lived in Leonov, Poland. Five of their 11 children died in infancy. She accepted Christ at an evangelistic meeting in 1929 and was baptized in 1939, joining Wymyschle MB Church. After Germany invaded Poland, one son was killed in action in 1941. In 1945, Jakob was drafted into "the home guard" (older men who were drafted into the German army as a last resort). He was never heard from again. Agneta and the family fled to Germany, then immigrated to Paraguay in 1948. They settled in Waldrode, Neuland settlement. Her strong faith brought them through these difficult years. After farming for 9 years, she immigrated to Canada with one son in 1957. She picked berries in summer. She served as a companion for older people till she was in her 70s. In 1973, she moved into Tabor Home. She was an excellent seamstress and for the next 11 years sewed over 2,000 patchwork tops for MCC quilts. She was a member of Culloden MB Church in Vancouver. She loved Jesus very much and strove to serve him to the best of her ability. Prayer was an important part of her life. She is mourned by daughters Emilie Hammermeister of Vancouver and Minna Wiese and Helena Polnau of Paraguay; sons Kornelius of Clearbrook, B.C. and Edmund of Aldergrove, B.C. The funeral was Jan. 28 at Clearbrook MB Church, with Jacob Pauls and Hans Wall ministering.
John Kroker
John Kroker passed away Jan. 25 of cancer. He was born Nov. 10, 1927 to George and Helen Kroker in Coaldale, Alta. As a teenager, he worked for his father in their lumberyard and on the family farm. He married Irma Quapp July 23, 1950. He farmed for a while, then worked for Neufeldt Industries/Haul All Equipment for 32 years as a welder and foreman. He was also a volunteer with the Coaldale Fire Department for 16 years. He was baptized Aug. 16, 1987, joining Coaldale MB Church where he served as an usher. II Corinthians 12:9 and Hebrews 13:5 became close to his heart during his illness. Predeceased by 1 brother and 1 sister, he is mourned by Irma, daughters Agnes, Carol, Elaine and Connie Yamabe; 2 granddaughters; 1 sister and 1 brother. The funeral was Jan. 28 at Coaldale MB Church, with Rudy Heidebrecht ministering.
Daniel Hildebrandt
Daniel Hildebrandt passed away Jan. 26. He was born Dec. 28, 1908 to Heinrich and Sara Hildebrandt in Ekatarinoslav, Russia. When he was 16, the family immigrated to Saskatchewan. He was baptized May 14, 1929 in Eyebrow, Sask. During the Depression, he moved to Vancouver Island, where he worked in a hospital in Comox. He married Agnes Van Bergen Aug. 4, 1940. They moved back to the farm in Saskatchewan. In 1946, they bought a farm in Sardis, B.C. He worked full-time at the hopyards for many years, kept a few cows and grew raspberries. He is remembered as a serious man who, together with his wife, never missed evening devotions of Bible reading and kneeling for prayer. He was a hard worker with little time for leisure activities. After retiring to Clearbrook, B.C., he took up woodcarving. His many carved birds and animals were to be seen at the MCC relief sales, which he supported for many years. Predeceased by 1 sister, 2 brothers and infant twin daughters in 1950, he is mourned by Agnes; daughter Mary Braun of Brampton, Ont.; 2 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and 4 brothers. The funeral was Jan. 31 at Clearbrook MB Church, with pastors Jay Neufeld, Jacob Pauls and George Baier ministering.
Justina Hiebert
Justina Hiebert passed away Jan. 31. She was born Dec. 7, 1898 to Jacob and Justina Gerbrandt in Wasiloka, south Russia. She immigrated to Canada in 1903. She accepted Christ at 14 and was baptized, joining Main Centre (Sask.) MB Church. She married Cornelius M. Hiebert Mar. 26, 1922. They farmed near Grossweide, Man. for 43 years. She was very hardworking and helped on the farm. She loved to grow flowers, which were widely appreciated, even by passers-by. In 1965, they retired to Plum Coulee, Man. They moved in 1981 to Winkler, Man. and in 1985 to Steinbach, Man., where daughter Sophie and son-in-law Geordie cared for them. In 1990 she moved into Steinbach Nursing Home. She had a lovely singing voice. At the nursing home, she would sing "At the Cross, At the Cross" almost without stopping all day and end by singing "And now I am happy all the day". Predeceased by Cornelius, son Gordon, 2 grandchildren, 2 sisters and 6 brothers, she is mourned by daughters Sophie of Steinbach, Violet of Winnipeg, and Lilly of San Jose, Calif.; sons Lawrence of Winkler and Norman of Kingsport, Tenn.; 17 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; 1 sister and 2 brothers. The funeral was Feb. 6 at Winkler MB Church, with Neil Block and Neil Rempel ministering.
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