Dueck, Karin (1921-1999)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 2000 Mar 17 p. 27

Birth date: 1921 May 21

text of obituary:

KARIN DUECK

Karin Dueck of Virgil, Ont. passed away Nov. 27. She was born May 21, 1921 to Dietrich and Katharina Dueck in Altenau, Ukraine. She had a happy, optimistic spirit. When she was young, her father and a sister died. While she was working in another village, her mother, 2 sisters and a brother were sent to Siberia. When she came home, she found the village deserted and was enlisted as a cook in the German army. She later fled west. In Austria she found her Aunt Mary, but they became separated. She continued alone to the American zone. In 1945 she trusted a man who promised to marry her. When they realized she was expecting a child, he left to find a home and never returned. On Aug. 22, 1946 daughter Heidi was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Karin worked at the hospital. In 1948 she went to the refugee camp at Backnang and then to Gronau. Here she was baptized and joined the MB church. Her faith in Christ gave her great joy and sustained her through difficulties. In 1949 she immigrated to Jordan Station, Ont. She worked on the Jacob Thiessen farm there. The work was hard, but the family was good to her. She and Heidi moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. and later to her own home in Virgil. She worked as a clerk in the local grocery store. When she retired, she moved to Pleasant Manor. She was active in the auxiliary, and continued to quilt, bake, cook and help anyone she could. She is mourned by her daughter Heidi Reimer; 2 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters and 1 brother in Germany. The funeral was Nov. 30 in Cornerstone Community Church, Virgil, with Herman Neufeld ministering.