Loewen, Nettie Giesbrecht (1906-1976)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1976 July 23 p. 30

Birth date: 1906 July 07

text of obituary:

MRS. NETTIE LOEWEN

(Mrs.) Nettie Loewen was born in northern Russia in Karaguj, Orenburg, the daughter of William and Katherine Giesbrecht (nee Braun). She grew up in the village of Grossfuerstenthal and later attended high school in Suworowka in the Terek region. Here she found the Lord, was baptized on her confession of faith in 1923, and was accepted into the Mennonite Brethren Church. Psalm 91 became very meaningful to her.

In 1919 a typhoid epidemic took her parents, one brother and three sisters. As orphans the remaining children emigrated to Winkler, Manitoba, staying with the Johann Duerksen family. After a short time in Gretna, Manitoba also, she moved with her sister to Kitchener in 1927. During a later stay in Winnipeg she met and married Peter J. Loewen on September 13, 1931. The couple made their home in Kitchener.

A time of study at MBBC (Winnipeg) commencing in 1948 enabled her to complete a B.R.E. degree. The Loewens taught in public schools in Manitoba and then in Hamilton, Ontario. They retired in Waterloo in 1974.

As a teacher she was able to express her love to lonely, forsaken children and instruct many in the way of the Lord during religious classes. She was a faithful helper to her husband in the diaconate, and taught Sunday school for many years.

After a lengthy illness, the Lord took her to be with him on May 30. A funeral service was held, June 2 at the Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church at which pastor J. F. Froese and F. C. Peters spoke.

She leaves to mourn her beloved husband, Peter; and four sisters, (Mrs.) Margaret Boldt, (Mrs.) Susie Duerksen, (Mrs.) Agatha Enns, and (Mrs.) Sara Kutz.