- Canada, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current -
- Shop now for incredible insights into your wellbeing -
Karl Fast
1921 - 2005
Peacefully, at the Bethania Personal Care Home, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, our husband, father and grandfather passed away on April 1, 2005 with his most loving wife Margaret at his side.
He is survived by his children Hilde Neustaedter (Henry), Lorie Bergen (Arthur), Marlies Klassen (Otto), Agnes Mauer and Karl-Heinz Fast (Janet); his grandchildren Angela Neustaedter Wiebe (David), Kurt Neustaedter (Sandra), Krista Neustaedter Barg (Darryl), Karina Fast (Douglas), Deanna Klassen (Chris Dasch), Adam Bergen (Stephanie), Marie Sinnock (Jeff), Heidi Bergen (Gerald Samuels), Melissa Fast, Michael Klassen (Misty Thevenot), Paul Bergen, Jordan Fast, Robert Mauer, Alana Fast, Michelle Mauer and Amy Mauer. He also leaves behind fourteen great grandchildren. They are Gabrielle, Brendan, Olivia Wiebe; Joshua, Natasha Neustaedter Barg; Lukas, Christian, Mark, Adam Neustaedter; Jaymi, Isaak, Katie Fast; Jacob Samuels; Colin Bergen. He is survived by his sister Katharina Pries (Jakob Klassen) and sister-in-law Susanne Fast, both of Germany.
He was predeceased by his parents Abram and Katharina Fast, brothers Gerhard, Hans and Peter as well as granddaughter Stephanie Mauer.
Dad was born in Orenburg, Russia on August 26, 1921. After the horrors of the war in Europe, which included a five-year term as prisoner of war in Russia, he reunited with his wife and daughter in Germany and settled in Winnipeg, MB in 1949. Here he grabbed hold of all the opportunities this wonderful country had to offer. He worked hard physically for a few years, always holding on to a dream of returning to interrupted education and his profession as a teacher. While working as a printer’s helper at City Press in Winnipeg, he wrote his first book, outlining his experiences during the war and as a prisoner of war. The account reminds the reader of the story written by Alexander Solshenitzyn, “A Day in the life of Ivan Denisovitch.” It gave his children an insight into who he was and it purged and clarified him in writing. He studied nights and summers at the University of Manitoba and received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He started teaching in 1958 at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, where he stayed until 1970. He taught in Lowe Farm and a half year at Steinbach Regional Secondary School. In January 1972 he took a job as a language consultant in the Department of Education from which he retired in 1986. He would consider the development of language teaching and training, in all second languages other than French among his greatest legacies. He trained teachers and introduced curriculum in Ukrainian, Hebrew and German bilingual programs. These were the years he worked with teachers on Hutterite colonies throughout Manitoba and encouraged the teaching of German and the training of teachers on the colonies. These years of fruitful work and the many friends he gained gave him much joy and fulfillment. At the same time he continued to give his incredible energies and creativity to his churches, North Kildonan Mennonite and Springfield Heights Mennonite, where he taught Sunday School, German School and eventually became an ordained lay minister in 1972.
At no time did his will to contribute and return his sense of debt to society diminish. He honoured his commitment to God for his deliverance from the terrors of war and imprisonment. He did so with grace and joy. His example to all around him had a deep impact.
We have missed our father for a very long time, due to a debilitating disease and our grieving has had time to sink in over these past few years. However, our loss will remain acute, long after we lay him to his final rest.
The funeral service for Karl Fast will be Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at Springfield Heights Mennonite Church, 570 Sharron Bay, Wpg. Viewing will be one hour prior to the service.
Donations will be gratefully received for Bethania Personal Care Home, 1045 Concordia Ave., Wpg, R2K 3S7 or Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, 86 Westgate, Wpg, R3C 2C9 where a scholarship fund in Karl Fast’s name will be established.
Dennis Doerksen
1951 – 2005
Dennis was born in Steinbach, MB on September 29, 1951. After having resided at various times in Nebraska, British Columbia and Alberta he returned to his native Steinbach where he died in the last week of March 2005.
His schooling took place in Twin Creek, Blumenort, Steinbach and Henderson, Nebraska and in BC where he took a heavy mechanics course at a technical college. Perhaps he was not always the most attentive student, or the best behaved, but there was nothing wrong with his curiosity to see how things worked. This led him to a lifelong passion for tinkering with things, taking them apart to see how they functioned, and sometimes even assembling them again. How many of these projects he successfully completed had less to do with his ability, and more to do with the urgency of the task. Early jobs had him catching chickens with great efficiency, working in Blumenort at the poultry processor, a variety of farm related jobs including a stint at custom harvesting in the USA. During various times he worked at different jobs in BC, whether in security guard work at job sites, or construction. One of his favorites was working at the Calgary airport in security work where he felt he had the authority to tell airline pilots where to go. More recently he spent his time in Steinbach, doing air quality inspection, as he would sometimes say, trying his best to keep his K cars in reasonable driving condition, and doing a few odd jobs here and there for family and friends.
He leaves to mourn his sudden passing his sisters Yvonne Lupky of Sandilands and Donelda Giesbrecht (Keron) of Ferndale, Washington, USA and his brothers Arnie (Kathy) of Steinbach and Wally (Ruth) of Steinbach and their families. He was predeceased by his parents Dick P. and Katherine Doerksen and brother-in-law Nick Lupky.
A memorial service will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel on Thursday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. with ash interment at the Blumenort Cemetery at a later date.
ERNA OSWALD
Peacefully at Bethesda Hospital on July 27, 2003, Erna Oswald passed away at the age of 87 years.
She was the youngest child of Eva and Carl Pachal and was born in Friedensfeld, MB on January 20, 1916. Erna is survived by her husband Albert to whom she was married for almost 61 years, her daughter Kathleen (Alexander) Paranosic and children Marko, Stevan, Juliana (Curtis) Yuzdepski and Nik (fiancée Camille Davis), her daughter Leila (Karl) Wegert and children Tessa (fiancée Grant Repsher) and Karel-Anton, and her son Eldon (Sandra) and his children Karis and Serek and one great grandson Mathias Yuzdepski.
Erna spent most of her life in the Friedensfeld area except for some time in Toronto and Winnipeg prior to her marriage September 26, 1942. She and Albert farmed on Road #303 until 1986. Erna’s greatest joy was to tend her garden where she grew wonderful strawberries, vegetables and flowers. In 1986 Albert and Erna retired to their house on Ash Street in Steinbach. Erna was active in the church, lending her beautiful voice to sing in the German choir and tying many quilts for the Ladies Aid.
The funeral Service for Erna Oswald will be held Thursday, July 31, 2003 at 2 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 465 Henry St.; Steinbach, MB with interment in St. John’s Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the first floor staff at Bethesda Hospital for their loving care during Erna’s final weeks.
In memory of Erna donations may be made to the Memorial Fund at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Anne Hiebert
1920 – 2003
Peacefully, with her family at her side Anne Hiebert of Steinbach, formerly of Homewood, MB passed away July 30, 2003 at Bethesda Place at the age of 83.
She is survived by her children Harold (Ingrid) Hiebert, Jim (Emily) Hiebert, Marion (Jim) Braun, and Eleanor (Abe) Rempel and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Abram W. Hiebert in 1994 and her son Paul.
The Funeral Service will be held Saturday, August 2, 1:30 pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel with viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment at Heritage Cemetery.
Vezina Joseph Martel
Services on: 08/22/2003
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Vezina Joseph (Joe) Martel on Tuesday , August 19, 2003 at Ste Anne hospital.
Joe was born in La Broquerie on September 11, 1923. He lived most of his life in Giroux, Manitoba where he was a rural postal courier for 37 years.
He will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 55 years, Grace, his children Maurice (Evelyn), Roger (Lorraine), Denise (Gerry), Adele (Jim), Doug (Gail), Gloria, Loretta (Steve), Marianne (Darren), Jim (Thelma), 24 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
Jos is survived by his sisters Orise (Wesley) and Florda, brothers Ferdinand and Gerald (Jean), as well as several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and many close friends. He was predeceased by his father Marcien, mother Florentine (nee Delorme), brothers Philip, Leon and Fred.
Prayers will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 150 Penfeld Drive, Steinbach, MB on Thursday, August 21 at 7:30 PM.
Funeral services will be held at Christ Our Saviour Catholic Parish, 365 Loewen Blvd., Steinbach, MB on Friday, August 22 at 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations
To The Canadian Cancer Society or The
Heart and Stroke Foundation in Dad’s name.
Richard Campbell
1923 - 2003
After a battle with cancer, Richard aged 80 went to be with Jesus on September 16, 2003 at Bethesda Hospital, Steinbach, MB.
Richard was born January 12, 1923 to Richard and Isabel Campbell in Carman, MB where he spent his first 30 years. The next approximately 30 years were spent in Portage la Prairie at the Developmental Centre where Richard enjoyed feeding cattle. From there he moved to Grunthal, MB to live with Pete and Mary Harder and family for almost 21 years. This is where he still resided at the time of his passing.
He is survived by three sisters: Florence, Marge and Frances; four brothers: Gordon, Ronald, Ken and Frederic and foster parents Pete and Mary Harder and family.
He is predeceased by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Richard enjoyed life to the fullest – he enjoyed cleaning up outside and in winter pushing snow. He also enjoyed going to the Red River Workshop and to church on Sundays. He enjoyed people.
The funeral service will be held Friday, September 19, 2 pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel with viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment in Grunthal Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Red River Workshop, 112 Main St.; Box 280; St. Malo, MB R0A 1T0
