Obituaries

Mary Neufeld passed away Oct. 30. She was born Dec. 4, 1913 to Jacob and Nettie Heide and grew up near Horndean, Man. She enjoyed school but left after grade 7 to help with family chores. As a teen, she was baptized and joined Grossweide MB Church, having a fervent desire to serve God. She married a young farmer, Jacob Neufeld, Apr. 17, 1931. Despite some hard times, they kept a positive attitude. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but she remained cheerful and the disease did not become extreme. Cancer was found in October, 1997. Predeceased by 2 brothers, 3 sisters and daughter Eleanor a year ago, she is mourned by Jacob; sons Leonard, Larry, Clarence and Ron; daughter Leona Schroeder; 26 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers and 5 sisters. The funeral was Nov. 2 in Winkler (Man.) MB Church, with Brad Huebert and Arnie Neufeld ministering.

Henry Breul passed away Nov. 6. He was born to Heinrich and Maria Breul June 6, 1907 in Krivoples, Russia. His father died when Henry was 14, so he went to work to help support the family. In 1943 he fled Russia with his mother and 2 sisters. He married Margaret Schellenberg in 1944. They immigrated to Manitoba in 1948. He accepted Christ Dec. 9, 1956. He was baptized in 1982 and joined Winkler MB Church, where he was a faithful member. They enjoyed farming, retiring to Winkler, Man. in 1988. He enjoyed good health until a stroke in 1994. Later, he entered Salem Home. He is mourned by Margaret; son Peter of Stony Mountain, Man.; 2 grandchildren and 2 sisters. The funeral was Nov. 10 in Winkler MB Church, with Neil Block, Peter Friesen and John Krahn ministering.

Bernhard T. Friesen passed away Nov. 10. He was born July 7, 1920 near Rosefarm, Man. He was baptized in 1940. He married Susie Klassen Nov. 12, 1944. He farmed near Thomas, Man. and was also involved in farm equipment and auto sales. He was active in the community, serving on agricultural boards, on the school board and in 4-H clubs. He enjoyed giving friends and family rides in his Cessna plane, later switching to flying model airplanes. He served on various church boards and taught Sunday school. In October, 1997 he was diagnosed with cancer. He was committed to God, and his greatest desire was to see people come to the Lord. His favourite verse was John 3:16. Predeceased by a sister, he is mourned by Susie; daughters Helen Kehler of Winkler, Verna Lehman of Ft. McMurray, Alta., Marlene Lynch of Winnipeg and Karen Sitompul of Morden, Man.; son Larry of Morden; 7 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 1 brother and 1 sister. The funeral was Nov. 15 in Winkler MB Church, with Neil Block and Bob Enns ministering.

Verda Mae Sept passed away Dec. 2. She was born Feb. 9, 1930 to Samuel and Marie Ratzlaff at Sunnyslope, Alta. She took on a protective and teaching role to her younger siblings. At 8, she accepted Jesus at DVBS. At 14, she was baptized, joining Linden (Alta.) MB Church. She taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She attended high school in Coaldale, Alta., took 1 year of teacher training and taught school 14 years. She felt God had given her a special love for children and a talent for working with them. In 1967 she married Emerson Sept of Three Hills, Alta., a widower with 3 children. David was born in 1969. She suffered hip injuries in an automobile accident in 1971, which led to a number of surgeries. In 1985 cancer was diagnosed. In 1988 the family moved to Abbotsford, B.C. In 1992 cancer spread to her bones; a 4-year remission ended in April, 1996. She found comfort in Deut. 33:25,27. She is mourned by Emerson; sons Dwight of Victoria, B.C., Barry of St. Paul, Alta. and David of San Diego, Calif.; daughter Dolli of New Westminster, B.C.; stepmother Margaret Ratzlaff of Linden; and 3 sisters. The funeral was Dec. 6 in Linden MB Church, with Harry Heidebrecht ministering.

David A. Penner passed away Nov. 25. He was born Jan. 11, 1914 to Henry and Margaret Penner in Borden, Sask. At 2, he had polio, which caused him to limp. He received Jesus through his sister and an evangelist at 20 while recovering from leg surgery. He delayed baptism for 6 years due to problems in the church; he finally realized he was suffering more than those who had offended his family, let go and obeyed God. He loved playing guitar and singing Christian songs. He distributed tracts and spoke of his faith wherever he went. He married Susie Sukkau in 1942. They farmed at Borden, Sask. He helped in the church choir and was Sunday school superintendent, Christian Endeavour leader and church secretary. He left farming due to nerves, Susie took practical nurse's training in Saskatoon in 1969, and they moved to Abbotsford, B.C. They joined Central Heights MB Church, where he faithfully refilled the pew welcome card slots each week for years. He enjoyed visiting people with disabilities, leading a few to the Lord. His leg improved after breaking it falling through a roof while shovelling snow. He worked for BC Tel into his 70s. They travelled with Christian groups, and he enjoyed graphy. He memorized Scripture and prayed at least an hour a day. Minor strokes began, and he moved to Menno Hospital in 1996. Predeceased by daughter Cathy in 1987, he is mourned by Susie; son Gerry of Borden; daughter Bernice Westergreen of Yellowknife, N.W.T.; 8 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 1 brother and 2 sisters. The funeral was in Menno Hospital Chapel, with Jake Balzer ministering.

Elsie Stobbe passed away Nov. 13 of cancer. She was born June 26, 1911 to Peter and Justina Heppner in Hepburn, Sask. At 14, she committed her life to Jesus during a revival meeting conducted by John Wiebe and was baptized. In 1931 she married Henry H. Stobbe of Langham, Sask. They homesteaded near Edinburgh, Sask. They farmed near Hepburn from 1940 until Henry's death in 1978. She loved the farm, staying as long as health permitted. She moved into Hepburn in 1994. She loved gardening, flowers, crocheting for her children and grandchildren, cooking, baking and visits from family and friends. She said she was never afraid or alone because the Lord was with her, but was homesick for heaven. Predeceased by Henry, John and 1 sister, she is mourned by daughters Irene Hart and Delores Warkentin; sons Arlee, Wayne and Wilmer; 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and 1 brother. The funeral was Nov. 17 in Hepburn MB Church, with Ross Penner and Ben Heppner ministering.

Peter Henry Peters passed away Nov. 23. He was born Jan. 31, 1902 in Gruenfeld, Russia. He committed his life to Christ and was baptized. The family immigrated to Canada in 1925. He worked as a farm labourer near Swift Current, Sask. He married Katie Wiebe June 11, 1933. Due to the Depression, they moved to Portage la Prairie, Man. to farm. He enjoyed farming, reading and his family. He stayed on the farm till age 93, then spent the last 2 years in Lion's Prairie Manor, Portage la Prairie. He was a faithful church member in Community Fellowship Church, Newton, Man. and later worshipped in Portage Mennonite Church. Predeceased by Katie, son John, 1 grandson and his brothers and sisters, he is mourned by sons Peter of Winnipeg and Tony of Portage la Prairie; daughters Mary Reimer in Ethiopia, Helen Peters, Jesse Schellenberg and Esther Schroeder of Winnipeg and Erna Funk of Hague, Sask.; 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. The funeral was Nov. 27 in Community Fellowship Church, with Tym Elias and Aubrey Krahn ministering.

Irma Shier passed away Oct. 22 of bone cancer. She was born Apr. 23, 1919 to Abram and Susanna Harder in Nikolayevka, Siberia. They immigrated to Canada in 1929, settling near Brookdale, Man. She was baptized in her teens and joined the MB church. She later moved to Winnipeg to work and joined North End (now Elmwood) MB Church. She married Sam Shier Jan. 27, 1940. She faithfully cared for him after his stroke in 1992. She is remembered as a loving, caring person who enjoyed entertaining friends. Predeceased by a brother, she is mourned by Sam; sons Richard and Carl of Winnipeg and Vern of Edmonton; daughter Rita Boese of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; 1 brother and 1 sister. The funeral was Oct. 24 in Klassen Funeral Chapel, Winnipeg, with Abe Neufeld and Keith Poysti ministering.

Abram John Froese

Abram John Froese passed away Oct. 20. He was born Jan. 9, 1919 to Johann A. and Sara Froese in Naumowka, Ukraine. He followed his family in immigrating to Manitoba after treatment for trachoma. In the 1930s he learned 500 verses of John to attend Canadian Sunday School Camp near Gimli, Man. Here he accepted Jesus. In 1939 he was baptized and joined Manitou (Man.) MB Church. In 1941 he graduated from both Winkler Bible School and high school. During World War II he did farm labour as a conscientious objector. He married Margaret Dueck July 26, 1945. They farmed near Boissevain, Man. and started Boissevain Select Seeds Ltd. He was ordained in 1949 and ministered in Boissevain MB Church for 25 years. He was instrumental in beginning the MB church in Brandon. In 1973 he pastored Manitou MB Church. They returned to the farm for several years before pastoring Justice MB Church. He is remembered as a gifted teacher and preacher who enjoyed ministering to people. He tried to keep up with both farming and church work, with church usually taking precedence. Often he wore a shirt and tie under his coveralls. In 1988 he retired to Killarney, Man. Predeceased by an infant son, 3 brothers and 2 sisters, he is mourned by Margaret; daughters Lillian Falk of Niverville, Man. and Sharon Glossop and Edith Gillespie of Calgary; son Wesley of Boissevain; and 9 grandchildren. The funeral was Oct. 25 in Boissevain MB Church, with Dan Stobbe and Tom Warner ministering.

Sara Marie Siemens passed away Nov. 21. She was born Apr. 10, 1912 to Julius and Katharina Derksen in Sagradovka, Russia. In 1925 they immigrated to Blumenort, Sask. She helped her parents by working in others' homes. She accepted Jesus after reading Ps. 23 and was baptized June 15, 1928. She married George Siemens Mar. 28, 1937. For 2 years they lived in Main Centre, Sask. in summer and Yarrow, B.C. in winter, then settled on a farm in Yarrow, farming and cutting cordwood. They moved to Sumas Prairie, B.C. in 1946, joining Arnold MB Church. She worked hard on the farm and in the home. They sold the farm in 1965, living on 2 smaller farms before retiring to Clearbrook, B.C. in 1972. She sang in the fellowship choir and participated in seniors' activities at Bakerview MB Church. She and George had daily devotions, playing guitars and singing hymns together every evening. She was a woman of prayer, memorized Scripture, wrote poetry, read the Bible through at least 7 times and loved telling others about Jesus. After heart failure in 1995 and a stroke in 1996, she moved to Tabor Home. Predeceased by 1 great-grandchild, she is mourned by George; daughters Betty-Lou Rempel and Hilda VanBergen; sons Alvin, Vic, Ed and Dennis; 16 grandchildren; l great-grandchild; 1 sister. The funeral was Nov. 26 in Bakerview MB Church, with John Neufeld and Henry Thiessen ministering.

Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 37, No. 2 Home Page