Loewen, Alva (1951-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Mar 5 p. 11

Birth date: 1951

text of obituary:

Two Children Perish When Farmhouse Burns

MOTHER CARRIES BABY FROM FLAMING HOME NEAR MCTAVISH, MAN.

Winnipeg, Manitoba. — Two young children of the Cornelius Loewen family perished in the flames of the Loewen farmhouse near McTavish, Man. Wednesday evening, Feb. 11, while the parents stood helplessly by, unable to enter the burning building. Mrs. Loewen managed to escape from the house with her eight-month-old daughter, Mary, a daughter Erna, 10, and son Henry, 7.

Funeral services for Annie and Alva Loewen, three and two years old respectively, were held Feb. 16 at the Evangelical Mennonite church, Rosenort. The large church auditorium and part of the basement were filled with sorrowing friends and relatives.

The one-story six room house was accidentally ignited when the daughter Erna fell while carrying a kerosene lamp. Mrs. Loewen failed in an attempt to smother the fierce blaze with a towel, and then rushed from the building with her infant daughter.

The two oldest children called Mr. Loewen, who was in the barn doing the chores, but it was too late to save the two children still in the house.

Besides the house, the family suffered the loss of all household goods and personal belongings except a washing machine. The Rosenort congregation is assisting the Loewens, and elected a committee to take charge of the aid. Plans are being made to erect a new house for the family. The day following the fire, more than 50 neighbors and friends gathered to clean up the debris.

(Among those attending the funeral services for the two Loewen children were Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Loewen of Meade, Kans., Mrs. Loewen being a sister of Cornelius Loewen.)