Editing Kehler, Helen Giesbrecht (1881-1974)

''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' obituary: 1975 Feb 21 p. 28

Birth date: 1881 Feb 02

text of obituary:

<center><h3>HELEN KEHLER</h3></center>

Helena Kehler was born to Frank and
Aganetha Giesbrecht in Neuhoffnung, near
Altona, Man. on February 2, 1881. Though
she loved to study, she had to leave school at
the age of 12 because of her mother's health
and help in the home.
The Bible was the textbook at school, so
she learned how God gave his Son to die for
man's sin. This created in her a desire to
become a child of God. She did this one day
when playing church and prayer meeting
with the neighbours' children, whose parents
were Christians.
In 1901 she joined the Sommerfelder
church by baptism, but she had a deep
longing for a deeper experience.
In 1902 she was married to John J. Kehler.
They lived with his parents for two years
and then moved to the St. Jean area on a
farm until 1911. After two years they moved
again, to an area where they got together
with other Christians. Rev. John Warkentin from Winkler came to their house in 1914
to bring them the gospel. She confessed
Christ to her husband and he too accepted
Christ.
The greatest battle of all was the question
of water baptism, but the Lord gave grace.
On June 17, 1917 they were baptized by Rev.
Warkentin and received into the fellowship
of the Grossweide Mennonite Brethren
Church.
In 1918 three daughters died through
influenza and were all buried in one day.
Here too the Lord stood with them. He gave
them 13 healthy children who were all saved
early in life. Another daughter, now Mrs.
Dick Klassen, came into their home in 1929.
In 1919 they moved to Kronsgart, then in
1925 to a farm near Morden. In 1943 they
retired and moved into Morden. John Kehler
passed away in Tabor Home in 1969.
Helena Kehler passed away December 24,
at age 93 years, 10 months. She was
predeceased by four daughters, Tena, Annie
and Dora in 1918, Nettie in 1970, a son John
in 1962 and her husband in 1969.
She is survived by six sons and their
wives: Frank and Annie of Morden, Jake
and Marie of Linden, Alta., Pete and Esther
of St. Catharines, Ont., Dave and Linda of
Portage La Prairie, Man., Ben and Martha of
Brandon, Man., and Harry and Doreen of
Purvis, Man.; three daughters and their
husbands: Helen and Jake Hildebrand of
Morden, Man., Mary and Jake Bartel of
Steinbach, Man., and Agatha and John
Janzen of Sask.; one son-in-law in Abbotsford, B.C.; one daughter-in-law in Surrey,
B.C.; 35 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one sister in Winnipeg, and two
children who grew up in their home and their
families.

[[Category:Mennonite Brethren obituaries]]