Goertzen, Henry Dyck (1922-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Mar 8 p. 24

Birth date: 1922 Jun 9

text of obituary:

HENRY DYCK GOERTZEN

Henry Dyck Goertzen of Abbotsford, B.C passed away Dec. 24. He was born June 9, 1922 to John and Maria Goertzen in Main Centre, Sask. When he was 16 or 17, his older brother John shared the gospel with him and he accepted Christ. At 20, he enrolled at Prairie Bible Institute. His studies were interrupted by World War II. He was allowed to finish his first year of Bible school, then served in the army medical corps for 3 years in France, Holland and Germany. In 1946 he returned to Prairie for 3 more years. In 1950, he went as a missionary to India with The Evangelical Alliance Mission. He learned the Marathi language, taught in a Bible school for a year and ran a medical dispensary. On Feb. 14, 1957 he married Marion June Cook, a TEAM missionary serving in the Hindi language in India. He became proficient in Hindi and headed up a Bible correspondence course program. In 1973 they moved to Trinidad to do literature work. He opened a bookstore, began a Bible course ministry and pastored a church for 2 years. In 1977 they returned to Canada for a year furlough. Their visas to return to Trinidad were refused, and they remained in Abbotsford. He held various jobs, including work as a night watchman at Trinity Western University. He retired in 1987. He is mourned by Marion; children Stan of Italy, Sandra Cameron of Redmond, Ore. and Paul of Vancouver; 5 grandchildren; and 3 sisters. The memorial service was Jan. 2 in Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford, with Chris Douglas and Don Enns ministering.