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Agnes Wittenberg
 Agnes Wittenberg passed away June 7. She was born June 14, 1931 to David and Elizabeth Geddert at Namaka, Alta. She attended elementary school there. The family moved to Coaldale, Alta. for 2 years, then Chilliwack, B.C. She graduated from Bible school in East Chilliwack. She taught Sunday school and Pioneer Girls and sang in the church choir. She was a nanny for a few years. In 1954 she moved to Gwynne, Alta. She was head cook at Bethany Homes for children for 15 years. She loved children, and they her. She was known as a special Aunt Aggie to her nieces and nephews. She worked at Montreal Children’s Home in Saskatchewan, with MBMSI in Nova Scotia, and for a summer in St. Lucia. In 1970 she began work as a cook in Tabor Home in Clearbrook, B.C. Her home was always open to her nieces and nephews, who were attending Bible school. In 1976 she married Harry Nordby, a widower from Dupree, S.D. He died of cancer in 1983. She moved to Lethbridge, Alta. Several nieces boarded with her. She babysat. She travelled to England and Spain. On Nov. 16, 1985, she married Abe Wittenberg of Tofield, Alta., a widower with 6 children. They enjoyed concerts, recitals and other functions their grandchildren were in. She loved jokes and playing games with her grandchildren. She and Abe supported missions. Predeceased by Harry and 4 brothers and sisters, she is mourned by Abe; stepchildren Shirley Mills and Gerald, both of Edmonton, Gordon of Sherwood Park, Alta., Doreen Johnston of Edmonton, Kevin of Olds, Alta. and Cheryl Ikenouye of Richmond, B.C.; 15 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters and 3 brothers. The funeral was June 11 in Tofield (Alta.) Gospel Church, with Peter Boschman and Wilf Richert ministering.
Lorne Edward Unger
 Lorne Edward Unger of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away suddenly July 13. He was born July 5, 1962 to Henry and Luella Unger. Apart from 3 years in Nigeria, he grew up in Abbotsford. He played cello and piano and loved sports, excelling at tennis. He graduated from University of British Columbia. He loved to be with people. He made a commitment to Christ early in life, was baptized and joined Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford. During his third year at UBC, he was struck with manic depression. He claimed John 3:16 as the verse that helped him keep his faith in God. For Christmas 1997, he gave his parents a carved eagle and reminded them of Isa. 40:30-31. The eagle was a symbol of freedom, strength and hope for him; he longed to be free of his illness. He is mourned by his parents; sisters Ardythe Taylor and Myrna Coleman; and brother Ronald. The memorial service was July 17 in Bakerview MB Church, with Henry Thiessen and Ross Johnston ministering.
Peter Suderman
 Peter Suderman passed away July 23 in Abbotsford, B.C. He was born July 20, 1903 to Peter and Helene Suderman in Orenburg, Russia. Since his father was a teacher, the family moved often. They settled in Gusarawka, Ukraine. He met Sara Klassen, who led him to the Lord. He was baptized and joined the MB church. He married Sara June 8, 1924. They immigrated to Canada in 1926, moving to Regina in 1928. In 1941 he became a journeyman electrician. In 1944 he started his own business. He retired in 1953 for health reasons. In 1966 they moved to Abbotsford. Peter suffered a stroke in 1996. He and Sara moved to Menno Home in 1997. He was a private, humble man. He supported mission, witnessed to associates, witnessed door-to-door, distributed tracts and in Regina did hospital visitation with Sara. One Christmas, he wrote to 200 Christians imprisoned for their faith in Russia, encouraging them. He had a special love for the Jewish people. He was industrious and did what he could for his family. He enjoyed his grandchildren, and they him. To his family, he modelled stewardship, integrity and faithfulness to God. Predeceased by daughter Marguerite Fletcher, 2 grandchildren, 1 sister and 3 brothers, he is mourned by Sara; children Helene of Abbotsford, Peter of Regina, Jake of Winnipeg, Henry of Dallas, Ore. and Mitzi Peters of Winnipeg; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; 2 sisters and 1 brother. The funeral was July 27 in Clearbrook MB Church, with Jay Neufeld and John E. Klassen ministering.
Peter Eugene Jantzen
 Peter Eugene Jantzen of Yarrow, B.C. passed away Apr. 25. He was born June 29, 1924 to Peter and Elizabeth Jantzen in Neuhalbstadt, Sagradovka, Ukraine. They moved to Harris, Sask. in 1926, then to Oxbow, Sask., then to Yarrow, B.C. in 1929. At 15, he accepted Christ during evangelistic meetings. He was baptized and joined Yarrow MB Church in 1943. He attended Bible school in Yarrow 1940-43, then worked as a conscientious objector on several farms in the Fraser Valley and Ladner, B.C. He married Erna Wiebe Apr. 22, 1945. He worked at Canadian Hop Yards on Sumas Prairie. They moved back to Yarrow. He co-owned Valley Meats, drove truck for Yarrow Freight and Fuels, and built highways throughout B.C. for Diamond Construction. Wanting to be closer to his family, he worked for Yarrow Lumber Yard (Pioneer BuildAll), then for 23 years as a millwright and purchasing agent for Guenther Doors, travelling to Taiwan, Borneo, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the US. He sang in the church choir, sang in the Gospel Messengers male quartet 1947-52, organized a male choir and sang in the Men of Song in Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. Church was important to him. He led congregational singing, did fund-raising for the church organ and ran the sound system. He loved working in his yard and garden, growing beautiful flowers and freely sharing the produce with others. He enjoyed woodworking, making bowls, clocks, rolling pins and baskets. He was a prayer warrior, praying faithfully for his friends and family. In March 1999 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is mourned by Erna; daughters Shirlee Fast of Greendale, B.C., Evelyn Brown of Edmonton and Terri Braun of B.C.; 10 grandchildren; 3 sisters and 2 brothers. The funeral was Apr. 30 in Yarrow MB Church, with Henry Baerg ministering.
Mary Klassen
Mary Klassen of Yarrow, B.C. passed away Feb. 10. She was born Nov. 1, 1910 to Jacob and Mary Isaak in Terek, Russia. Her sister and father died when Mary was 11. In 1927 she, her mother and her brother immigrated to Manitou, Man.; they soon moved to Watrous, Sask. She accepted Christ, was baptized and joined the MB church. In 1933 they moved to Yarrow, joining Yarrow MB Church. In 1943 she married John Klassen. He died in 1970. She then lived alone in her own house. She was always cheerful and thankful. She encouraged others, wanting to show that being a Christian was joyful and peaceful. She made many handcrafts for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, for friends and for MCC. She enjoyed playing marbles with her family once a week. Though she was hard of hearing and had other pains, she never complained. She learned to adjust to circumstances, was thankful and focused on the things she had, not what she didn’t have. She took interest in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was hospitalized in December 1998. Predeceased by her brother and sister and 1 grandchild, she is mourned by sons Walter and Abe; daughters Fredie Rauch and Hildy Burke; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The funeral was Feb. 13 in Yarrow MB Church, with Jim Nightingale ministering.
Previous | Next Last modified September 28, 1999.
© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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