Willms, Irma Rempel (1914-2003)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituaries: 2003 May 2 p. 27 & 2003 Jul 11 p. 25

Birth date: 1914 Dec 2

text of obituary:

IRMA WILLMS

Irma Willms of Abbotsford, B.C. died Feb. 13. She was born Dec. 2, 1914 to Abram and Helene Rempel in Chechnya, Russia. The family lived on her grandfather's estate. During the revolution, they moved to Ebental where they homesteaded and built a sod house. She accepted Jesus during a spiritual reawakening and was baptized in her early teens. Here father became a preacher. They moved to Neu Hoffnung, then emigrated to Manitoba in 1930. After the harvest, they moved to Yarrow, B.C. Irma worked as a housekeeper on farms, then got a job in Vancouver at 17. She became a charter member of South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church where her father was preacher. She married Henry Willms Oct. 25, 1936. In March 1937 they began a dairy farm, but also did mixed farming. In 1969 they retired and built a new house on the property. They travelled; Irma looked after her granddaughters, and spent time in her flower garden. They moved to Garden Park Tower in 1998. She led by example, was loving, patient and kind. She had great faith in God and was faithful in prayer. She is mourned by Henry; sons Walter, Rudy, John, Vic and Rick; daughters Selma Turner, Erika LeClair and MarieAnne Dick; 23 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great- grandchild; 3 sisters; 3 brothers. The funeral was Feb. 20 in South Abbotsford MB Church with David Epp ministering.