Brown, Henry (1908-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Oct 25 p. 27

Birth date: 1908 Sep 22

text of obituary:

HENRY BROWN

Henry Brown passed away Aug. 14. He was born Sept. 22, 1908 in Gortschakovo, Russia. The family immigrated to Steinbach, Man. He worked clearing road allowances. In 1929 he moved to Yarrow, B.C. and worked in the hop fields. He committed his life to Jesus at an evangelistic service and attended Yarrow Bible School for a term. He and brother Nick bought 20 acres in Clearbrook, B.C. where Columbia Bible College now stands. He was baptized in 1932. He attended a Pentecostal church, then several house churches and met Annie Kornelson at the church in South Poplar Hall. They married in 1936 in South Abbotsford MB Church. They had a very strong work ethic. They lived on Sumas Prairie, then bought a 67-acre berry and dairy farm in Matsqui, B.C. They attended Matsqui MB Church and were ordained as deacons in 1940. They moved to a 27-acre livestock and berry farm in Clearbrook in 1962 and to a fruit farm in Kelowna in 1976. They helped at Gardom Lake Bible Camp. They returned to Clearbrook where they lived for the last 20 years. He enjoyed gardening, pruning, bowling, fishing, singing in the choir and serving on the funeral catering committee at Clearbrook MB Church. They supported Logos mission. He survived bowel cancer in 1990, 2 heart attacks and Parkinson's; in his last month a vessel blockage in his leg caused gangrene. Predeceased by son Benny by drowning as a child, 2 brothers and 1 sister, he is mourned by Annie; children Arnie, Martha Loewen, Walt, Ernie, Herb, John, Dave, and Caroline Matis; 27 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 8 brothers. The memorial service was Aug. 24 in Clearbrook MB Church, with Jay Neufeld ministering.