Heidebrecht, Peter (1894-1980)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1980 Oct 24

Birth date: 1894 Oct 13

text of obituary:

PETER HEIDEBRECHT

Peter Heidebrecht of Coaldale, Alta. passed away suddenly on August 26 while returning from a short vacation in B.C. He was 86. He was born on October 13, 1894, in Gnadenfeld, in southern Russia, the first child of Dietrich and Helena Heidebrecht. His childhood was saddened through the death, when he was ten, of his mother. He experienced most of his youth in the village of Hamberg, where he worked on his father's tree nursery and for a time lived with his uncle in the Crimea. During the time of the First World War he was drafted into the army and later, following the revolution, he became involved in the Self·defense (Selbstschutz) groups and the White Army. Later after the defeat of the other forces, he was drawn into the Red Army. Despite the great turmoil through which he came, he would later testify that he had never committed violence upon any person. He was married to Elizabeth Dirks in 1922, a union to which were born five sons and five daughters. In 1925 they came to Canada and settled near Linden, Alta., where they were welcomed into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite fellowship. Though he had accepted Christ as his Saviour as a child of 8 or 9, it was through the death of a son, Victor, in 1946, that he renewed his commitment to the Lord. In 1947 the family moved to Coaldale, where they joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. Throughout a long life, he experienced many hardships, yet he maintained a positive and optimistic spirit. He served gladly in the church. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughters, Erika (Mrs. Leo) Doucette, Burnaby, B.C., Lillian (Mrs. George) Litke, Aldergrove, B.C., Hilda, Buffalo Head, Alta., Anne, Calgary, and Betty (Mrs. Wayne) Hall, Langley, B.C.; and sons, John, Medicine Hat, Alta., Rudolf, Coaldale, Harry, Greendale, B.C. and Herbert, Alt; 19 grand- children and one great grandchild. The funeral took place on August 29 from the Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church with Nick Reimer and Harry Heidebrecht ministering, and John Dueck officiating.