Walde, Henry (1907-2000)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 2000 Nov 3 p. 28

Birth date: 1907 Apr 21

text of obituary:

HENRY WALDE

Henry Walde of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Sept. 8 after a heart attack. He was born Apr. 21, 1907, the third child of 4 boys and 3 girls born to Abraham and Agatha Walde in Orloff, Sagradovka, Russia, In November 1919 his father, grandfather and 3 uncles were massacred by bandits. At 19, he came to Canada to find peace. He worked as a farmhand in Niverville, Man., then Regina. At 20, he accepted Christ; he was baptized the next year. After a winter at Herbert (Sask.) Bible School, he began farming in Kindersley, Sask. He married Anna Krahn. They farmed here for 6 years, enduring drought and grasshoppers. They farmed for 3 more hard years at Glenbush, Sask" then moved for 9 years to Gem, Alta., where farming was better. Anna died 4 days after giving birth to their fifth child. Ten months later, he met Susie Martens of Coaldale, Alta. They married a few weeks later. She was a good helpmate who enjoyed farming and gardening as much as he did. Three more children were born. In 1947 they moved to Chilliwack, B,C. They spent the next 32 years milking cows, raising chickens, cleaning eggs and growing vegetables and berries. They attended church regularly. They were charter members of Broadway MB Church. In 1978 they retired from farming and became involved in making blankets for MCC. He cut squares from old clothes and ironed them for Susie to assemble and sew. Together they made over 3,000 blankets for MCC 1985-90. In 1998 they fully retired to Menno Terrace in Abbotsford, Susie died 6 months later. In 1999 he moved to Menno Home. He is mourned by his children Hilda Stewart, Henry, Anne Unger, Irma Mitchell, Mag Cross, Joanne Peerless, Alice Gray and Albert; 26 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 1 brother and 1 sister. A memorial service was held Sept. 12 in Broadway MB Church, Chilliwack, with Bob Friesen ministering.