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Verna Ruth Buhler
Vema Ruth Buhler of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Sept. 25 at age 76, ending her battle with cancer. She was born in Hepburn, Sask. and moved to Abbotsford, B.C. in 1936. In 1952 she sailed across the ocean to marry missionary Leslie Buhler in India. With “Labourers together with God” as their motto, they served 40 years together in India. She wholeheartedly served as a Bible teacher, wife and mother. Her caring, compassionate spirit, her courage and her dedication touched many hearts. She is mourned by Leslie; children Tim, Becky Stinson, Sheryl Hanks, and Dan; 11 grandchildren; 3 sisters and 2 brothers. The memorial service was Sept. 30 at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford.
Esther Margaret Dyck
Esther Margaret Dyck passed away Sept. 10. She was born July 31, 1919 to Jacob and Anne Andres in Langham, Sask. She attended school in Langham and Hepburn, Sask. As a teen, she became a Christian, was baptized and joined the MB church. She attended Bethany Bible Institute for a-year-and-a-half, then the family moved to Ontario. At a Virgil church picnic, she met Nicholas Dyck. They married and moved to Toronto for a year where he was in second year at Ontario Bible College. When World War II started, they bought a 7-acre farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. There were many lean years, but there was always enough to eat. She sacrificed to provide 2 new outfits each year for each of her children. She offered a listening ear and advice to her children and a compassionate heart and baking for neighbours in need. She was known for her smiles and optimism, cheering others on. She always looked forward to the next family party. Predeceased by 1 brother, she is mourned by Nicholas; children Evelyn Krause, Art, Ruth Esau, Betty Peters, Grace Davy, and Rudy; 17 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 1 brother and 1 sister. The funeral was Sept. 13 in Fairview MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont., with Waldo Pauls and Michael Krause ministering.
Peter Voth
Peter Voth passed away Aug. 27. He was born July 12, 1926 in Sagrowaka, Russia and came to Canada as an infant with his family. They lived in Manitoba through the Depression. He made a commitment to Christ and was baptized in 1947 at Steinbach, Man. In 1948 the family moved to the Niagara area of Ontario. He married Betty Loewen July 7, 1951. He enjoyed carpentry and remodelling houses. He worked one-and-a-half years in a home for delinquent boys, which he found very challenging, then worked at Tabor Manor in St. Catharines, Ont. 12-and-a-half years until retirement. He enjoyed travelling and camping with family and friends; was involved in prison ministries for over 20 years; sang with the Community Chapel choir and Niagara Male Community Chorus for the past few years; and for the last 4 years cared for and drove cancer patients to appointments. He was diagnosed with cancer July 20. Predeceased by 1 brother, he is mourned by Betty; children Del, Edie, Myrna, and Jerry; 8 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; 2 brothers and 3 sisters. The funeral was Aug. 30 in Fairview MB Church, St. Catharines, with Waldo Pauls ministering.
George David Geddert
George David Geddert passed away Oct. 12. He was born June 2, 1924 to David H. and Leise Geddert in Ebenfeld, Slavgorod, Russia. The family immigrated to Canada in 1927. They farmed in Namaka, Alta. moved to Coaldale, Alta. in 1943 and bought a berry/dairy farm in Chilliwack, B.C. in 1945. At 11, he committed his life to the Lord, largely through the influence of Sunday school teacher John A. Toews. He drifted from the Lord and dropped out of school at 16. At Coaldale Bible School, he “was restored to the fold”; baptism and church membership followed. He graduated from Coaldale in 1944, studied 3 years at Prairie Bible Institute and earned a B.Th. at MB Bible College in 1950. He married Annie Hamm Aug. 13, 1950 in Chilliwack, B.C. He served 38 years at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask., first as printer, teacher and librarian, then for the last 12 years as full-time librarian. He also served as secretary of the Saskatchewan MB Conference for 13 years, as a board member of the Canadian MB Conference publications committee and as interim pastor of Hepburn MB Church. He earned a B.A. from the University of British Columbia and a B.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary. When he was 12, curvature of his spine was discovered. Major surgery was required in 1970 to prevent further curvature from crushing his lungs, but progressive respiratory crises occurred in 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2002. Since May 2002 he was on continuous oxygen. He retired from Bethany in 1990; he and Annie moved to Willow Park Terrace in Kelowna, B.C. in 1995. He made many new friends, served as secretary of the condominium society and enjoyed the library, seniors’ group and senior choir in Willow Park Church. Predeceased by 1 sister, he is mourned by Annie; children Ron, Tim, Wes, Larry, Ken, and Donna Friesen; 20 grandchildren; 2 brothers and 2 sisters. The funeral was Oct. 17 in Willow Park Church, with Arnie Peters ministering.
Victor Friesen
Victor Friesen of Winnipeg passed away Sept. 4, 2002. He was born June 13, 1924 in Steinbach, Man. He is survived by Mary Lee, his wife of 53 years; children Jerry, Jane Weitzel, Wayne, and James; 8 grandchildren; 1 sister and 1 brother. A memorial service was held Sept. 9 in Fort Garry MB Church, Winnipeg.
William Friesen
William (Bill) Friesen passed away Oct. 1. He was born Dec. 21,1926 to Dietrich and Ann Friesen in Provost, Alta. Life on the farm was hard. The family moved to Saskatchewan, then to Yarrow, B.C. when he was 10. At Yarrow MB Church, he determined to serve God and was baptized at 16. After 2 years at Bible school and 1 year at MB Bible College, he earned an M.Ed. from the University of British Columbia. He taught and was principal at Sharon Collegiate for 6 years and taught public school for 14 years, then went into home construction until retirement. He married Annie Kaethler Sept. 10, 1950. They had a happy home, and the family shared many happy holidays. He served the church many hours a week, teaching Sunday school for many years, serving on church boards and donating a year to oversee the construction of Central Heights seniors’ manor. He was a founding member of Columbia Bible Camp, where he served many evenings and weekends in physical work and leadership roles. Cancer was diagnosed 12 years ago; he fought it with all his might, living 9 years longer than doctors expected. During this time, he experienced a renewed sense of God’s love and care and strengthened family relationships. Predeceased by 1 brother, he is mourned by Annie; children Wilbert, Valery Neufeldt, Bruce, and Lorne; 13 grandchildren; 3 brothers and 1 sister. The funeral was Oct. 4 in Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C.
Dennis Janzen
Dennis Janzen passed away Sept. 18 at age 50, after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Chilliwack, B.C. He was a master craftsman in his trade as a finish carpenter and furniture maker. He fought his disease with courage and dignity, but had made peace with God and was not afraid to die. Predeceased by his father John in 1986, he is mourned by his mother Margaret and her husband Jake Lepp; 1 sister and 2 brothers. The funeral was Sept. 23 at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Abbotsford, B.C.
Herman Isaak
Herman Isaak passed away Sept. 14. He was born Sept. 13 to Herman and Katharina Isaak in the Ukraine. He had many stories to tell of the Russian Revolution. The family moved to Manitoba in 1926. He worked on farms for years to pay off his boat passage. He and a friend started a Sunday school in 1927. He married Mary Falk May 22, 1932. They moved to Vineland, Ont. in 1941. After much illness, Mary died Dec. 28, 1967. He married Esther Mandtler Boese May 23, 1970, merging their two families and making a home where all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved to spend time. After working 22 years at Foster Wheeler, he retired in September 1970. They were among the first residents of the apartments at 3 Tabor Drive in St. Catharines, Ont. Until the last couple of months, he repaired small appliances for others. As he could drive till his 96th birthday, he and Esther bought groceries for others who could not go out and took them to medical appointments. He spent a lot of time in prayer and Bible study. He conducted Bible studies at Tabor Manor into his 80’s. He loved old-time gospel songs, men’s quartets and choirs. Predeceased by Mary and 6 sisters, he is mourned by Esther; children Ruth Boese, Alvin, and Vern; stepson Larry Boese; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 1 sister and 2 brothers. The funeral was Sept. 17 in Fairview MB Church, St. Catharines, with Waldo Pauls ministering.
Nelly Maria Dirks
Nelly Maria Dirks passed away Oct. 5. She was born Mar. 7, 1927 to Jakob Isaak Dyck and Frieda Mayer in Ukraine. The family immigrated to Germany in 1929 and to Canada in 1934. They lived with a relative in Roblin, Man., then moved to Kildonan, Man. in 1936, where her father opened a manufacturing business. In her late teens she received Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In 1945 she was baptized and joined North Kildonan MB Church. She was always involved in church, serving especially in music. She worked as receptionist and bookkeeper in her father’s business. On Feb. 3, 1967 she married Nicholas Klassen, who serviced their furnaces. They made frequent trips south in winter. In the early 1980s they moved to B.C. and joined Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford. She served as pianist for the Fellowship Choir and Gospel Singers. Nicholas died May 14, 1996. She married. Syl Dirks July 18, 1998; she became mother and grandmother of a 38-member clan and loved it. She had a heart for missions, contributing freely to her church, the food bank, Union Gospel Mission, Logos Canada, Kingdom Ventures, Family Life Network, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Far East Broadcasting and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. She developed pain in late 2001 and was eventually found to have inoperable liver and pancreatic cancer. She is mourned by Syl; 2 stepsons; 5 stepdaughters; 1 half-brother and 2 sisters. The funeral was Oct. 5 in Bakerview MB Church, with Michael Dick and Jake Quiring ministering.
Hilda Evelyn Weins
Hilda Evelyn Weins passed away of cancer Sept. 18 at MSA Hospital, Abbotsford, B.C. She is survived by her husband John; children Jerry, Lynn Wood, Robin, and Sharon Eldridge; 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. The funeral was Sept. 24 at Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, with Henry Thiessen ministering.
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Last modified February 20, 2003.
© 2003 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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