Loewen, Katharina Quiring (1902-1975)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1975 May 16 p. 30

Birth date: 1902 Jan 21

text of obituary:

(Mrs.) KATHARINA LOEWEN

Katharina Loewen was born in Leonidowka, Russia, on January 21, 1902. She came from a large family of half-brothers and half-sisters, many of whom perished in concentration camps in Siberia, Only one of her half-brothers, Dr. Walter Quiring, was able to attend her memorial service.

Persistent childhood illness deprived her of all but one year of schooling, but this never dimmed her interest and her capacity to discuss new ideas. In January, 1975, already stricken with the illness that claimed her life on April 15, she became deeply involved in a discussion of the principles of church growth among the Choco Indians of Panama, some new ideas on the place of the Holy Spirit in Bible translation and the psychosomatic dimensions of illness and faith healing.

She accepted Christ as her Saviour in her late teens and was later baptized and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. Her first marriage, to Jacob Isaak, ended after only one year when typus claimed his life. The young widow was left with an ailing infant son, Jacob. (The story of how she dedicated him to the Lord was told in the March 21 Herald, page 5).

In 1925 she married Abram Loewen. They reached their fiftieth anniversary April I, this year. Two girls were born to their union, but both lost their lives as infants in an epidemic in Germany, where the family found temporary refuge following their flight from Russia in 1929.

In 1930 the family found a new home in Canada, first in Manitoba and since 1934 in British Columbia where they became members of the Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church.

The children and grandchildren pay special tribute to serveral of her qualities. She owned her humanity fully and was never too proud or too pious to ask for forgiveness when she discovered herself in error. She also had an almost limitless capacity to become absorbed in the needs and concerns of others.

Her unselfishness was almost proverbial. Even during the last weeks of her life she repeatedly expressed concern about the fact that she was requiring so much attention from doctors, nurses and relatives-attention which was so much more needed by others.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Abram Loewen; one son, Jacob A. and Anne Loewen, Lusaka, Zambia; six grandchildren; a halfbrother, Walter Quiring of Germany, relatives and many friends.

The funeral was conducted by Rev. Abe L. Klassen from the Yarrow MB Church on April 19