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Kroeker, Diane (1944-2004)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Mar 8 p. 10
Birth date: 1944
text of obituary:
By Kevin Heinrichs'
Canadian Mennonite University
Winnipeg, Mass. — Two people who were part of a tour of Guatemala organized by Canadian Mennonite University drowned while swimming in the Pacific ocean on Feb. 29.
Diane Kroeker of Winnipeg — a staff member at CMU — and Walter Goertz of Richmond, B.C., drowned near Contepeque on the Guatemalan coast.
Kroeker, 60, was the tour administrator and also served as administrator for CMU's Outtatown program, which organized the trip. She is survived by her husband, Irvin, who was present on the tour, and three grown daughters. She was a member of St. Aiden's Anglican Church in Winnipeg.
Goertz, 77, is survived by his wife, Anne, who was also present on the tour, and was a member of Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, B.C.
On March 1, CMU President Gerald Gerbrandt called the drownings a deep tragedy for the victims' families and for CMU.
"Our prayers and sympathies are extended to the families of Diane kroeker and Walter Goertz," Gerbrandt said. "OUr entire community at CU is in deep shock and grief over this terrible tradegy. We will deeply miss Diane and her major contribution to the Outatown program. We are also deeply saddened with the passing of Walter, given his long friendship and association with CMU."
Kroeker and Goertz were part of the Adventure for the Soul Adult Tour, organized by the Outtatown program, which offers tours for people 30 and older.
The group was midway through a two-week tour of Guatemala, where they studied local history and worked with local churches on service projects.
A chapel service attended by about 350 people was held March 1 at CMU. Meetings also were held in support of students and others who knew Kroeker.
Tour leaders in Guatemala met and, with Irvin Kroeker's blessing, unanimously decided to complete the tour as a way to honor his wife's work.
The group was to return to Winnipeg on March 8.
