Kehler, Helen Giesbrecht (1881-1974)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1975 Feb 21 p. 28

Birth date: 1881 Feb 02

text of obituary:

HELEN KEHLER

Helena Kehler was born to Frank and Aganetha Giesbrecht in Neuhoffnung, near Altona, Man. on February 2, 1881. Though she loved to study, she had to leave school at the age of 12 because of her mother's health and help in the home.

The Bible was the textbook at school, so she learned how God gave his Son to die for man's sin. This created in her a desire to become a child of God. She did this one day when playing church and prayer meeting with the neighbours' children, whose parents were Christians.

In 1901 she joined the Sommerfelder church by baptism, but she had a deep longing for a deeper experience. In 1902 she was married to John J. Kehler. They lived with his parents for two years and then moved to the St. Jean area on a farm until 1911. After two years they moved again, to an area where they got together with other Christians. Rev. John Warkentin from Winkler came to their house in 1914 to bring them the gospel. She confessed Christ to her husband and he too accepted Christ.

The greatest battle of all was the question of water baptism, but the Lord gave grace. On June 17, 1917 they were baptized by Rev. Warkentin and received into the fellowship of the Grossweide Mennonite Brethren Church.

In 1918 three daughters died through influenza and were all buried in one day. Here too the Lord stood with them. He gave them 13 healthy children who were all saved early in life. Another daughter, now Mrs. Dick Klassen, came into their home in 1929. In 1919 they moved to Kronsgart, then in 1925 to a farm near Morden. In 1943 they retired and moved into Morden. John Kehler passed away in Tabor Home in 1969.

Helena Kehler passed away December 24, at age 93 years, 10 months. She was predeceased by four daughters, Tena, Annie and Dora in 1918, Nettie in 1970, a son John in 1962 and her husband in 1969. She is survived by six sons and their wives: Frank and Annie of Morden, Jake and Marie of Linden, Alta., Pete and Esther of St. Catharines, Ont., Dave and Linda of Portage La Prairie, Man., Ben and Martha of Brandon, Man., and Harry and Doreen of Purvis, Man.; three daughters and their husbands: Helen and Jake Hildebrand of Morden, Man., Mary and Jake Bartel of Steinbach, Man., and Agatha and John Janzen of Sask.; one son-in-law in Abbotsford, B.C.; one daughter-in-law in Surrey, B.C.; 35 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one sister in Winnipeg, and two children who grew up in their home and their families.