Loewen, Elma (1932-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Jul 31 p. 1

Birth date: 1932

text of obituary:

Two Canadian Young Women Lose Lives By Drowning

SUPERVISOR AT BIBLE CAMP LOST LIFE TRYING TO SAVE YOUNGER GIRL

Steinbach, Manitoba. — Large congregations attended funeral services held at local churches on Sunday afternoon, July 20, for two local young women who lost their lives by drowning at the Red Rock Lake Bible Camp at the Lake of the Woods the preceding Wednesday. They were Alice Wiebe, 21 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wiebe, and Elma Loewen, 15, daughter of the Jac. F. Loewens.

According to reports of the tragedy received here, Elma Loewen got into deep water and Alice Wiebe, a supervisor at the camp, went to her assistance. The result was that both lost their lives, in spite of the fact that both could swim.

Elma Loewen, whose parents live on a farm six miles northwest of here, had earned the privilege of attending the camp by memorizing Bible verses. She was a grade eight pupil in Twin Creek School. Final serevices [sic] were held at the First Mennonite church here with the Rev. B. D. Reimer and Rev. P. D. Friesen in charge.

Funeral services for Alice Wiebe took place at the E.M.B. church, with Rev. H. Fast from Oklahoma bringing the message. Miss Wiebe had graduated from the Bible school at Three Hills, Alta., this spring. She was an enthusiastic booster for the Bible camp and went there after graduation to help with the work. She had planned to enter nurses’ training next fall to equip herself for the foreign mission field in India.