Sperling, John (1924-2008)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2008 Apr p. 35

Birth date: 1924 May 10

text of obituary:

JOHN SPERLING

John Sperling died Jan. 16,2008. He was born May 10, 1924 to John and Erna Sperling in Crimea, Russia. They were forced to abandon John's brother and sister who had died while the family fled by train to Germany. Later they immigrated to Santa Catarina, Brazil, where they began their new life in a barn together with 40 other families. In 1948, John took over the family dairy for the next 20 years. He was proud to have been one of the first car and TV owners in town. He attended a Janz Team crusade and accepted Christ as Saviour, and was baptized into the Curitiba MB Church. John met Mary Kasper in 1969, and 2 and a half months later they married at Culloden MB Church, Vancouver. The wedding was in English, even though he didn't yet understand it. John worked in cabinet and furniture shops in Vancouver and Clearbrook, and eventually held his own shop to be closer to family. John has a great sense of humour and was known for his practical jokes. He is mourned by Mary; children John (Lori), Anne-Marie (Norbert) Penner, Elizabeth (Paul) Tschetter; 5 grandchildren; 1 sibling.