Dyck, William W. (1903-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 23 p. 7

Birth date: 1903 Jul 31

text of obituary:

Businessman, Pastor Dies in Manitoba

Steinbach, Man. — Funeral services for Rev. Wm. Dyck, 68, pastor and pioneer businessman of Niverville, were held at the Niverville Mennonite Brethren Church on Dec. 9. He died Dec. 6 at his home.

Rev. Dyck came to Canada with his parents after World War I. He served as pastor of the Niverville M. B. Church for 36 years.

In 1940 Rev. Dyck and his oldest daughter founded Dyck's Electric Hatchery in Niverville. Later the business was expanded into the hardware and lumber fields, and eventually the Wm. Dyck and Sons Construction firm was established.

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Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1972 Feb 11 p. 30

text of obituary:

REV. WILLIAM W. DYCK

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day ..." (2 Tim. 4:7,8) .

This was the text of the last sermon that William Dyck of Niverville preached to his congregation on the first Sunday of the 1971 Advent season. Suddenly on December 6, 1971, at 9:30 in the morning, he was called into the presence of his Lord and Saviour.

On the Saturday before his death he was at the church where the lumber of the old Niverville Mennonite Brethren church was auctioned off. Happy and in apparent good health, he commented, "My work in Niverville is symbolically ended; I have helped in building the church and now that chapter is completed." Due to great fatigue, he was not in the worship service on Sunday, December 5.

In the afternoon he felt somewhat better and in the presence of all of his children and grandchildren took an active part in celebrating the birthday of his wife. As was his custom, he also read a fitting Psalm for the occasion. In the evening he was present at the baptism of his grandchild in Winnipeg and also at the communion service.

Despite a restless night, he went to his place of business the next morning, drove to the Post Office, got the mail and returned home. A few minutes later he died in the arms of his wife, suddenly, as he had wished it might !be.

Funeral services were held on December 9 in the Niverville MB church, the first member of the congregation to be carried out of the new sanctuary. Rev. Ted Martens read Psalm 90:1-12 as invocation. The male chorus sang suitable numbers and the song "My God and I" was sung by Rudy Enns. Rev. A .A. Unruh delivered the first message, using John 1:16 as his text. Rev. Jacob Bergen followed with John 11:13-27 as his text. He said, "Brother Dyck had a deep love for the Lord and for the church. We will not forget his work." Rev. Frank Friesen of Morden, a friend of Rev. Dyck from his youth, brought the final message, based on Rev. 14:13.

William Dyck, the only son of Rev. Wilhelm and Emilie Dyck of Millerowo, Russia, was born on July 31, 1903. He grew up in a family with nine sisters. His was a God-fearing home and at the age of 14 he accepted Christ as his Saviour, whom he loved and served until his end.

He left his parental home at an early age to continue in higher studies in Halbstadt. From there he followed his parents to the Kuban area in the Caucasus, where they had fled because of the Revolution. Here William met his future wife, Anna Reimer. In 1924 he emigrated to Canada with his parents. They made their first home at Gnadenthai, Manitoba. Three years later, at his request, his wife-to-be left her parents in Russia and on June 25, 1927 they were married. They lived at a number of locations before they finally settled in Niverville in 1934.

At the age of 32 he was ordained and became the pastor of the church. For 36 years he served his church with love and devotion. Despite his active life, he always found time for his fellowmen, whether by day or night. He lived up to his motto, "Strive for the city's welfare." Twenty five years he served as trustee of the local school board, and in addition he served on committees for the Winkler Bible Institute and the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute. He lived to be 68 years old and was able to share 44 years with his wife. Left to mourn are his wife, Anna; three daughters and their husbands; three sons and their wives; 15 grandchildren and many friends, relatives and co-workers.