Funeral service will be held at 1:00PM on Tuesday January 31, 2023 at the Winkler EMMC with interment to follow at the Bergfeld Cemetery. Viewing will be from 1PM-8PM on Monday at Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler and at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the EMMC Low German Curriculum Project for children in grades K-8. Cheques can be made to EMMC, with the note “Low German Curriculum Project”, Etransfers can be sent to [email protected] marked “Low German Curriculum Project” (available on the EMMC website). Or, go to emmc.ca/donate and select MEM: Low German Curriculum Project
Anne Giesbrecht (nee Bergman)
1929 ~ 2023
Anne Giesbrecht died peacefully on Wednesday January 25, 2023 at age 93, of advanced years in the Villages wing of Winkler’s Buhler Active Living Centre.
She was born October 3, 1929 in Plum Coulee the first of 18 children to Bernhard (Ben) and Helena Bergman of Bergfeld, where there was much fun and “spott” to be had. She was baptized in the Bergfeld EMMC church. She married her devoted husband, Peter (Pete) Giesbrecht in 1949 and for 58 years of marriage (Pete died in 2007), they raised three children, travelled and worked and loved and were sterling examples for countless people whose paths they crossed. Anne’s life was hallmarked by love and concern for all, humility, and service to others, no matter their shortcomings. Following the example of Jesus was her first and natural instinct her whole life, and while Pete could not stop himself from initiating cheerful conversation with every stranger he ever met, Anne was a bit more reserved but always courteous, kind and generous to a fault.
Anne was an active participant in the travels and ministries she and Pete undertook over the years. During these times, in addition to raising three children, hosting boarders, foster children and many visitors passing through, she was a pastor’s wife (and a teacher’s wife) - this in and of itself a full time job.
After Pete established himself as a teacher in Kronsthal, Pine Dock, Halbstadt, Gnadenfeld and Altona, in 1967 Anne and Pete travelled to British Honduras (now Belize) with their 3 children where they served the EMMC as pastor and founded a school at Blue Creek colony. Later, they travelled to Harrisonburg, Virginia where Pete completed a degree in sociology. Aylmer, Ontario was next where Pete served as pastor of the EMMC church and later, at the church in Roseville (Kitchener), interspersed with a series of appointments in Mexico. During those years, Anne often found work as a teaching aide or in running the meat section of the college dorm kitchen at Eastern Mennonite College and a great variety of other duties. She was always available to play the piano and to sing at innumerable meetings and gatherings and Pete and Anne were much sought after as a singing duo. In her early years, Anne loved to read and tell us stories about sneaking off to read even when called on to help cook for her many siblings. These playful and adventurous times extended into raising her children and meeting family at a park to swing or swim or slide in a pool with grandchildren. Her favourite songs were more than just hymns as with her love of “the Happy Wanderer” – a song of her life ending with “O may I go a-wandering until the day I die, and may I always laugh and sing beneath God's clear blue sky.”
Anne was predeceased by her husband, Peter Giesbrecht in 2007, by her parents, Bernhard and Helena Bergman, two brothers, Peter and Ben and one sister, Minnie. She is survived by her son, Ron and daughter-in-law, Suzanne Giesbrecht of Chilliwack, their children, Benjamin, Alexandria and Paige and Ryan with great-grandchildren, Claire and Kaia; her daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Albert Penner of Winnipeg their children, Carissa, Lara, and Scott and Kayla with great-grandchildren, Poppy, Corbin and Anola and her son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Elizabeth Giesbrecht of Toronto, their daughter, Laura and Alex with great-grandchildren, Nikolaos and Atticus, as well as 14 remaining siblings and their families.
Anne Giesbrecht (nee Bergman)
1929 ~ 2023
Anne Giesbrecht died peacefully on Wednesday January 25, 2023 at age 93, of advanced years in the Villages wing of Winkler’s Buhler Active Living Centre.
She was born October 3, 1929 in Plum Coulee the first of 18 children to Bernhard (Ben) and Helena Bergman of Bergfeld, where there was much fun and “spott” to be had. She was baptized in the Bergfeld EMMC church. She married her devoted husband, Peter (Pete) Giesbrecht in 1949 and for 58 years of marriage (Pete died in 2007), they raised three children, travelled and worked and loved and were sterling examples for countless people whose paths they crossed. Anne’s life was hallmarked by love and concern for all, humility, and service to others, no matter their shortcomings. Following the example of Jesus was her first and natural instinct her whole life, and while Pete could not stop himself from initiating cheerful conversation with every stranger he ever met, Anne was a bit more reserved but always courteous, kind and generous to a fault.
Anne was an active participant in the travels and ministries she and Pete undertook over the years. During these times, in addition to raising three children, hosting boarders, foster children and many visitors passing through, she was a pastor’s wife (and a teacher’s wife) - this in and of itself a full time job.
After Pete established himself as a teacher in Kronsthal, Pine Dock, Halbstadt, Gnadenfeld and Altona, in 1967 Anne and Pete travelled to British Honduras (now Belize) with their 3 children where they served the EMMC as pastor and founded a school at Blue Creek colony. Later, they travelled to Harrisonburg, Virginia where Pete completed a degree in sociology. Aylmer, Ontario was next where Pete served as pastor of the EMMC church and later, at the church in Roseville (Kitchener), interspersed with a series of appointments in Mexico. During those years, Anne often found work as a teaching aide or in running the meat section of the college dorm kitchen at Eastern Mennonite College and a great variety of other duties. She was always available to play the piano and to sing at innumerable meetings and gatherings and Pete and Anne were much sought after as a singing duo. In her early years, Anne loved to read and tell us stories about sneaking off to read even when called on to help cook for her many siblings. These playful and adventurous times extended into raising her children and meeting family at a park to swing or swim or slide in a pool with grandchildren. Her favourite songs were more than just hymns as with her love of “the Happy Wanderer” – a song of her life ending with “O may I go a-wandering until the day I die, and may I always laugh and sing beneath God's clear blue sky.”
Anne was predeceased by her husband, Peter Giesbrecht in 2007, by her parents, Bernhard and Helena Bergman, two brothers, Peter and Ben and one sister, Minnie. She is survived by her son, Ron and daughter-in-law, Suzanne Giesbrecht of Chilliwack, their children, Benjamin, Alexandria and Paige and Ryan with great-grandchildren, Claire and Kaia; her daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Albert Penner of Winnipeg their children, Carissa, Lara, and Scott and Kayla with great-grandchildren, Poppy, Corbin and Anola and her son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Elizabeth Giesbrecht of Toronto, their daughter, Laura and Alex with great-grandchildren, Nikolaos and Atticus, as well as 14 remaining siblings and their families.