Rempel, Dietrich D. (1895-1972)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1972 Apr 21 p. 31

Birth date: 1895 Dec 30

text of obituary:

DIETRICH D. REMPEL

Dietrich D. Rempel of Abbotsford, B.C., passed away very suddenly at his home on March 14. He was born to Dietrich and Katharina (nee Matthies) Rempel in Karassan, in the Crimea, on December 30, 1895. In 1898 the family moved to the Caucasus where he spent his childhood and attended school. For his high school he went back to Karassan. Shortly after finishing school he was drafted into the Russian army and served on the Turkish front. During the Revolution he served for a time with the White Army. When the White Army lost to the Communists he was left behind sick with typhoid fever. Yet God spared his life and he was wonderfully able to return to his home. Through God's grace he came to salvation in Christ and in September, 1921 he was baptized by Anton Gerg and accepted into the Mennonite Brethren church at Kalantorowka, Stavropol.

He was married to Gretha Fast in 1922 in the home of his wife's parents, the Kornelius Fasts. God gave them six sons and two daughters. They came to Canada in 1926 and lived in Manitoba until 1934 when they moved to B.C. After a short stay in Yarrow they moved to Abbotsford. During a recent stay in the hospital in Vancouver he made a new experience with his Lord.

He leaves to mourn, his grieving wife, Gretha; six sons, George, McKinleyville, Calif., Ewald, Abe, Herb, Ed and Clarence, all of Abbotsford; two daughters, Hertha (Mrs. Glenn Follis), Chilliwack, and Verna (Mrs. Mike Woloshen), Williams Lake, B.C.; and 21 grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers and three sisters.