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Kornelius Braun
Kornelius Braun of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away June 12. He was born Aug. 12, 1914 to Heinrich and Sara Braun. When he was 8, his mother died. His father married Maria Neudorf, a widow with 3 children. In 1929 the family immigrated to Paraguay, settling in No. 10, Chaco, Fernheim. Here he met and married Tina Knelsen. At 31, he accepted Christ; a year later, he was baptized and joined the Mennonite church in Fernheim. In 1953 they moved to Bajé, Brazil. In 1965 they moved to Vancouver, joining Vancouver First Mennonite Church. After retiring in 1979, they moved to Abbotsford and joined Clearbrook Mennonite Church. He valued the church, especially worship services. He loved singing. He helped where he could. He was thorough and orderly. In 1997 he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He had surgery, but the cancer returned after 2 years. Psalm 23 was his source of comfort. His wish to die at home was granted. He is mourned by Tina; children Katie Peters, Corny, Irmgard Harms, Marie Enns, Leni Friesen and Herb; 20 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. The funeral was June 15 in Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Abbotsford, with Hans Fedrau and Jakob Enns ministering.
Abram Peters
Abram Peters of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Aug. 20. He was born July 19, 1928 to Abraham and Maria Peters near Tofield, Alta. When he was 7, they moved to a farm closer to Tofield, where he attended school. They attended Lindbrook (Alta.) MB Church. At 14, he accepted Christ at an evangelistic meeting led by A.H. Unruh. Abe loved to sing of his faith, and participated in choirs in Tofield, Matsqui, B.C. and Yarrow, B.C. He was baptized Aug. 9, 1942 at Cooking Lake near Edmonton. In 1946 the family moved to a dairy farm on Matsqui Prairie. In 1952 he bought 20 acres in Matsqui. He cleared 10 acres, moved a cabin onto the land, build a barn and started a dairy farm. He also worked on his parents’ farm. He married Elizabeth Dyck in spring 1955. In fall 1955 they moved to Yarrow to farm. He retired in 1992, but kept the farm. Abe did short mission terms in Mexico and Brazil. This became his passion. He enjoyed many hours in his shop creating things. In 1996 he had open heart surgery and recovered. In 1998 he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He is mourned by Elizabeth; son Lorence and daughter Linda Westad, both of Abbotsford; 1 brother and 1 sister. The funeral was Aug. 25 in Yarrow MB Church, with Jim Nightingale and Ron Braun ministering.
Rudolf Schilling
Rudolf Schilling of Chilliwack, B.C. passed away July 26. He was born Sept. 10, 1922 to Leopold and Hulda Schilling in Latvia. At an early age, he took responsibility for helping the family, becoming a shepherd and a farmhand. In the 1930s, he apprenticed as a baker in Riga, Latvia. He enjoyed playing the tenor horn in a brass band. In 1939 he was called into the German army. After the war, he moved to Germany, where he met and married Erika Studensky. They became Christians early in their marriage. He was a locomotive engineer and worked as a welder in the VW plant in Wolfsburg. In 1953 they immigrated to Canada, sponsored by a Baptist church in Chilliwack. In 1955 they were baptized and joined Yarrow (B.C.) MB Church. The first years were difficult, but in the late 1950s he became a welder for Canada Lafarge. He also grew strawberries and raspberries and raised beef cattle. In 1972 he and son Ron bought Yarrow Building Supplies. In 1979 he started Peace River Building Products in Fort St. John, B.C. During the 1970s, he and Erika made several trips to Germany. He was active in the church and community. Erika died in 1985. He married Elsie Warkentin; they enjoyed 12 years together. He struggled the last 2 years with cancer. He kept a positive outlook, did not complain about his pain, but was cheerful and encouraging. He is mourned by Elsie; children Heidi Tomlinson of Sardis, B.C., Ron of Yarrow, Rene Giesbrecht of Fort St. John, Gord of Yarrow, Ruby Lefebvre of Ottawa and Bernie of Fort St. John. The funeral was July 30 in Yarrow MB Church, with Dan Rempel and Siegbert Zukowski ministering.
Anne Otto
Anne Otto of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Sept. 10. She was born Dec. 22, 1919 in Dallas, Man. In 1928 the family moved to Winnipeg. She married Joseph Otto Sept. 18, 1937. They lived in Winnipeg until 1961, when Joe was relocated by Air Canada to Montreal. Early in life, she was influenced by a godly grandmother who taught her the Lord’s Prayer. In 1947 at an evangelistic service, she accepted Christ. In 1947 she was baptized in McDermott Ave. Baptist Church, Winnipeg. In 1977 they retired to Chilliwack, B.C., moving to Clearbrook, B.C. in 1985 and then to Central Heights Manor, Abbotsford in 1993. They joined Central Heights MB Church. She participated in seniors’ activities and sang in the Jubilee Choir. She is remembered for her warmth, laughter, fun-loving personality, optimistic nature, sense of humour and unending devotion to her husband and family. She was a friend to all, and her presence lit up a room. During a 2-month struggle with cancer, she was courageous and optimistic, never complaining. Though she found it hard to understand what was happening, she accepted it with grace, and her faith in God never wavered. Predeceased by 5 brothers and 2 sisters, she is mourned by Joseph; children Nelson, Lorraine Dickman, Richard, Joanne Schroeder and Joy Neu-feld; 14 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and 1 brother. The memorial service was Sept. 14 in Central Heights MB Church, with Christopher Douglas ministering.
Margarete Schellenberg
Margarete Schellenberg of Yarrow, B.C. passed away Aug. 23 in Menno Hospital, Abbotsford, B.C. She was born Jan. 18, 1914 in Kronsthal, Russia. Predeceased by her husband David and daughter Margarete, she is mourned by sons Victor Peters, John Peters, Elvin Schellenberg; stepchildren Dave Schellenberg, Peter Schellenberg, Harry Schellenberg, Agnes Derksen and Anne Kienzle; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The funeral was Aug. 26 in Yarrow MB Church, with Ron Braun ministering.
Elma Penner
Elma Penner of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Sept. 16. She was born Oct. 7, 1926 to Jacob and Susie Bartsch in Dalmeny, Sask. When she was 9 months old, her father drowned. When she was 4, her mother married Jacob Suderman. She grew up on a farm, where she milked cows and helped with her younger siblings. At 14, she accepted Christ. At 15, she was baptized in the North Saskatchewan River. She had a venturesome youth, from attending Bible school in Dalmeny to travelling to Ontario with her sister Eveline. There she worked on a GM assembly line. She returned to Saskatoon to do daywork. She married Bill Penner Sept. 4, 1954. Family and friends were precious to her, but more precious was her faith in Christ. She is remembered for her love to others. She is mourned by Bill; children Calvin, Wendy and Jerry; 10 grandchildren; 6 sisters and 2 brothers. The funeral was Sept. 20 in Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford, with Doug Braun and Christopher Douglas ministering.
Norman Smith
Norman Smith of St. Catharines, Ont. passed away Sept. 1. He was born Aug. 30, 1928 in England. He apprenticed in sheet metal. At 18, he joined the air force, serving 2 years. He met Marcia at work. They married Mar. 26, 1949. In 1952 they immigrated to St. Catharines. A neighbour invited son Dave to attend club at Fairview MB Church. Through this and the ministry of Harvey Gossen, Norman and Marcia accepted Christ. They and son Dave were baptized in 1966. Norman was overwhelmed by God’s grace and forgiveness. He went out of his way to greet everyone at church, particularly newcomers. He is remembered for his love of the Lord and his family. He taught his children to seek Christian mates and to live for the Lord. His creativity was not limited to his trade. He was multi-skilled and was self-employed for many years. Son Brian joined him in a business venture called Ontario Copper Roofs. In 1998 Norman retired. He taught his children to love nature, birds and music and to appreciate all of God’s creation. He was full of compassion for all of God’s people. Shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary, he was diagnosed with cancer. He reminded his family of John 14:2-3. He is mourned by Marcia; children Dave of Abbotsford, B.C., Ann Gossen and Brian, both of St. Catharines, and Janet Becker of Edmonton; and 13 grandchildren. The funeral was Sept. 4 in Fairview MB Church, with Waldo Pauls ministering.
Previous | Next Last modified November 2, 1999.
© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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