Loewen. Walter Jakob (1927-1999)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 2000 May 28 p. 28

Birth date: 1927 Jan 30

Text of obituary:

WALTER JAKOB LOEWEN

Walter Jakob Loewen of Winnipeg passed away Oct. 10 of a brain tumour. He was born Jan. 30, 1927 to Jakob Nikolaj and Margarete Loewen in Gnadenfeld, Ukraine. His father was arrested in 1936, and he never saw him again; he died in Russia in 1975. His mother led him to the Lord when he was 16 and taught him that the Lord would provide strength for difficult periods. He was baptized Apr. 4, 1943 and joined the Mennonite church in Gnadenfeld. In 1943 he, his mother and 3 siblings fled to Germany (one brother had died in 1941 and another in the military in 1944). In 1944 he was drafted. He was captured by the Russians and forced to work for over 3 years in a coal mine at Makoschau, Poland. During this time, his mother and sister died. With the aid of MCC, he was released to West Germany in 1948. In 1949 he immigrated to Culross, Man. He worked for his aunt and uncle, the David Klassens. In 1950 he moved to Winnipeg. He worked briefly at Monarch Machinery, then as a maintenance mechanic at Brook Bond Food Ltd.; he retired in 1989. He attended night school at MBCI. Here he met Elvira Teichrieb. They married Oct. 4, 1952. Family was important to him. He was reunited with his sister (1988) and brother (1991), who live in Germany. He was a meticulous craftsman . He could salvage things others thought unusable. He was very skilled with his hands,inventing a remote control braking system when his daughters were learning to drive. He was practical, had a subtle sense of humour, was a captivating storyteller and was very giving. He opened his home for family and neighbours for Friday night haircuts, served as a deacon in church, taught Sunday school and provided transportation to church activities for those who otherwise could not attend. He was so thankful for all he had been given, he did all he could to help others. He lived his faith daily. Predeceased by 3 siblings and 1 son in infancy, he is mourned by Elvira; children Hedy Joycey, Friede Thiessen, Nellie Groening and Frank; 13 grandchildren; 1 sister and 1 brother. The funeral was Oct. 14 at Portage Ave. MB Church, Winnipeg, with Abe Konrad and John Unger ministering.