Kroeker, Maria Wiens (1915-2008)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2008 Jun p. 31

Birth date: 1915 Oct 31

text of obituary:

MARIA KROEKER

Maria Kroeker died Apr. 2, 2008. She was born Oct. 31, 1915 to Heinrich and Maria Wiens in Ufa, Russia. They moved to Omsk, Russia, and Maria accepted Christ at 11, becoming a member of the MB Church. They travelled back to Ukraine, where Maria trained as a nurse. She married Peter Rempel in 1935, but he was arrested and never seen from again after Stalin's purge in 1937. After retreating with the German army in 1943, Maria, her daughter, and parents immigrated to Canada in 1948 with the help of MCC. She attended South Abbotsford MB Church and married Jacob Kroeker in 1949. They became charter members of King Road MB Church, serving in choir, Sunday school, catering, and missions committees. They moved to Clearbrook, B.C. after retirement, and took many trips. Maria is mourned by children Lily (Hellmuth) Kullmann, Vern, Heidi (Fred) Hess; 5 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren. The memorial service was Apr. 9 at Clearbrook MB Church.