Sawatzky, Bernhard W. (1906-1974)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1974 Mar 08 p. 37

Birth date: 1906 Jan 13

text of obituary:

BERNHARD W. SAWATZKY

Rev. Bernhard W. Sawatzky, well-known Bible school teacher and minister, went home to be with his Lord at Edmonton, Alta., on February 9, 1974. He was born January 13, 1906, in Russia and came to Canada in 1924, where he worked for a farmer in Aberdeen, Sask. It was here that he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour, in 1925, under the ministry of Rev. C. N. Hiebert.

He married Helen Sawatzky in Aberdeen. He attended both Herbert (Sask.) and Winkler (Man.) Bible schools, and later in life studied at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

He taught Bible school for one year in Aberdeen, Sask. (1933-34). In 1936 he accepted a call from the Coaldale Bible School in Alberta, and taught there for twenty years. Bernhard and Helen Sawatzky were ordained to the ministry by the Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church in 1939.

In 1957 he moved with his family to Edmonton, to serve the Lord and form a church group which later became the Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church. He served in this capacity until 1960, when he had to resign for health reasons.

Due to an incurable disease of the brain, he spent the last eight and a half years until his death in the hospital. The family wishes to express their appreciation for those who prayed and stood by them, and particularly to Rev. Peter Rempel, who visited Rev. Sawatzky in the hospital weekly during his ministry as pastor of Lendrum church. The funeral service was held February 13 in the Lendrum MB Church. Pastor Marvin Schmidt officiated and Rev. Peter Rempel gave a message. Rudy Wiebe sang "Have Thine Own Way, Lord," a favorite of Mr. Sawatzky.

He is survived by his wife Helen; one son, Waldo and wife Velma; four daughters: Mrs. Adeline (Henry) Bergen of Calgary, Mrs. Myrna (Frank) Zoeteman of Edmonton, Mrs. Esther (Neil) Van Gelder of Winfield, Alta., Mrs. Evelyn (Brian) Lagasse of Edmonton; and 15 grandchildren.