Koslowsky, John (1913-1975)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1975 Dec 12 p. 30

Birth date: 1913 Jan 29

text of obituary:

JOHN KOSLOWSKY

A longtime resident of the Abbotsford, B.C. area, John Koslowsky, passed away on October 29 after a short illness. He was born on January 29, 1913, in Sergejewka, in the Ukraine, the son of Johann and Maria Neufeld Koslowsky. His parents left Russia in 1918 after World War 1, living first in Germany and then coming to Herbert, Sask., in 1922. In 1927 the family moved to Winnipeg, where the father became a watchmaker with the T. Eaton Co. John grew up in Winnipeg, beginning a life-long enjoyment of singing, first in Sunday school and then in church choirs, a ministry he continued in later life in quartets and as soloist, singing in hospitals, prisons and senior citizens' homes as well as in churches.

In 1937 he married Lydia Thiessen, a union blessed with two daughters and two sons. In 1938 John found Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and was later baptized and joined the Northland Mennonite Brethren Church in Winnipeg. He began his training as a typesetter with the Rundschau Publishing House (now Christian Press) in 1936, a profession he continued in all his life, for a brief time in Geraldton, Ontario, and after two years as a C.O. in B.C., for 29 years at Hacker Press in Abbotsford, B.C.

He entered hospital September 1 and underwent a month of medical examinations and treatment. He was able to go home, though gravely ill, and on October 29 passed away. He leaves to mourn his early passing, his wife, Lydia; his children, Anita (Mrs. Melvin) Penner of Taiwan, Herb and wife Ruth of Clearbrook, Harold and his wife Martha of Swaziland, and Lois, at home; five grandchildren; two sisters, (Mrs.) Annie Neufeld, Winnipeg, and (Mrs.) Mary Klas· sen, Abbotsford, and many relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church on November 1 with Pastor Don Balzer and David Nickel officiating.