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 Stein- feld, 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 fam- ily immigrated to Rosth- ern, 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 On- tario 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 Coll ege. He was a good provid er and worked 2 shifts a day for several years- being a farmer by day and a watchman and welder at the Lord &: Burnham Greenhou se at night. In 1981 unsu c- cessful eye surgeri es forced retirement from the farm . They mov ed to Virgil. He trad ed in his car for a bicycl e. When Mary's hea lth failed, he learned to bake zwieback and make borscht. Mary died Feb. 15, 1992. In 1994 he mov ed to Pleasant Manor. Here he made friends, helped host the Wednesday morning coffee hour, delivered the Cornerston e Church bulletin s, start- ed a petition for a High- way 55 crosswalk, pushed for live church broadcasts at the Manor and enjoyed playing Chinese check - ers. After the sudden death of his son john in 1999, he questioned why God would take a young, strong man in- stead of him. He never regained his zest for life. Predeceased by Mary, son john, a grandson and a great-grandchild, he is mourned by chil- dren Ben, Peter, Bill and Ann; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 1 sister. The memo- rial service was Feb . 1 in Cornerstone Communi- ty Church, Virgil, with George Wichert and Vic Loewen ministering.