Falk, Berhard Herman (1910-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 May 31 p. 24

Birth date: 1910 Apr 11

text of obituary:

BERNHARD HERMAN FALK

Bernhard Herman Falk passed away Jan. 28 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. He was born Apr. 11, 1910 to Herman and Anna Falk in Steinfeld, Ukraine. When he was 9, his father died of typhus . He quit school in order to support the family. He accepted Christ. In 1926 the family immigrated to Rosthern, Sask. He married Mary Petkau Sept. 29, 1935 in Waldheim (Sask.) MB Church. He worked as a blacksmith for several difficult years. They went to Ontario and bought a farm in Niagara-on-the Lake in 1939. He was a trustee in Virgil (Ont.) MB Church and helped fundraise for Eden Christian College. He was a good provider and worked 2 shifts a day for several years- being a farmer by day and a watchman and welder at the Lord &: Burnham Greenhouse at night. In 1981 unsuccessful eye surgeries forced retirement from the farm . They moved to Virgil. He traded in his car for a bicycle. When Mary's health failed, he learned to bake zwieback and make borscht. Mary died Feb. 15, 1992. In 1994 he moved to Pleasant Manor. Here he made friends, helped host the Wednesday morning coffee hour, delivered the Cornerstone Church bulletins, started a petition for a Highway 55 crosswalk, pushed for live church broadcasts at the Manor and enjoyed playing Chinese checkers. After the sudden death of his son John in 1999, he questioned why God would take a young, strong man instead of him. He never regained his zest for life. Predeceased by Mary, son John, a grandson and a great-grandchild, he is mourned by children Ben, Peter, Bill and Ann; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 1 sister. The memorial service was Feb. 1 in Cornerstone Community Church, Virgil, with George Wichert and Vic Loewen ministering.