Falk, William (1904-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1969 Jun 13 p. 24

Birth date: 1904 Apr 30

text of obituary:

REV. WILLIAM FALK

Rev. William Falk On May 14, 1969, at his residence at 14 Rossmere Crescent, W'innipeg after a prolongediJoiness, William Falk, beloved husband of Helen Falk, was relievedhis suffering to be forever with the Lord. The funeral service was held Saturday, May 17, 1969 at the North K,ildonan Mennonite Brethren Church with Rev. Wm. Neufeld, Rev. V. Toews and Rev. Frank Friesen offic-i'ating. William Falk was born in the village of Steinfeld in the Old Co'iony settlement in Russia on April 30, 1904. In February 1924 he married Helen Guenther and immediately emigrated to Canada. The·ir union was blessed with four children: Mrs. Jack (Mary) Flatt of Winnipeg, David of Goshen, Indiana, Mrs. Herbert (Erna) Buller and Herbert of Winnipeg, a.JI of whom survive him. In 1927 he came to fully dedicate and commit his IHe to Jesus Christ. In a small rural fel'lo'Wship group, upon the urging of others, he ventured forth with his f.irst sermon. Some time foUowing this he enrol'led M the Wi.nn'ipeg Bible Institute. He was called by the Mennonite Brethren Church to work in Winnipeg as city missionary, in which capacity he served for almost 17 years. In 1953 he became pastor of the North Kildonan Church where he served 'until 1965 when he moved to Morden to assume leadership duties of the congregation there. In 1967 he was stricken by cancer and i,n the two ye'ars which followed, there was an increase of suffering to a point indescribable in its ferocity. His own respon'se to such trials was gratefulness for the 63 years which he had lived free of any illness and in fulll possession of his physical powers. The aid from hi;s fellow-Christians in nelping him and his family to bear up under the terrible strain of his gradual decline, he spoke of wi1h deep-felt gratitude. He prayed that his life, and the end of his life, suffering and death would somehow bring honor to the name of God. In writ,i,ng down some of his thoughts, the last he could write, he ended with: "Ich bete aber, und meine Famil'ie mit mir, daB auch me,in phys'isches Leiden m6chte Gottes Name Ehre machen. Das wal'lte Gott. Auf jeden Fal'l sagen wir: 'Es hat gut, bis hierher gut gegangen, HerrHch stritt Jehova Zehaoth. Darf uns wohl mit solchem Fuhrer bangen? Unter se'iner Hand gibt's keine Not.