Caroline Ann Ens
(nee Elias)
March 13, 1931 - December 15, 2025
Caroline Ann Ens (nee Elias) was born on March 13, 1941 to Annie (Letkeman) and William V. Elias. The oldest of 6 children, she worked closely with her mom Annie on their farm in Blumenfeld, Manitoba, learning the value of hard work and to take pleasure in a job well done. Caroline especially enjoyed times spent with her extended Letkeman family, who made gatherings and workdays full of laughter and fun. From her mother Annie she learned to bake, to sew, to can, and to garden – things she continued to love throughout her entire life.
Caroline loved learning and excelled at school, memorizing dozens of poems and songs and developing such beautiful penmanship that she was asked to write out certificates during her time as a student at the MCI in Gretna. Through Jugenverein (youth group) events, she met Armin Ens. They began dating in 1958, while she finished teacher’s college in Winnipeg and as she began her teaching career at the Blumenort school in Gretna. They got married in 1965, and Caroline continued teaching for several years after their marriage in the villages of Schoenweise and Kronsthal.
The birth of their children, first Lionel and then Sheralyn, kept Caroline happy and busy as she managed a large garden and yard and household in Reinland. She sewed almost all the family’s clothes, faithfully drove both children to Morden for weekly piano lessons, and was happily involved in the village community events. The Reinland ladies sewing circle, fall suppers at the community centre and later on serving tour groups to the Reinland Heritage House were ways she enjoyed connecting with others. She cultivated many deep and enduring friendships with her neighbors. Hosting or attending ladies birthday lunches, or taking time to share some cookies or pie were always highlights for Caroline. She loved to feed others, and her guests always enjoyed her delicious food.
A strong faith and dependence on God was central to Caroline’s life. She was baptized as a teenager in the Reinland Rudneweider church, and was an active member of the Blumenort Mennonite Church in Rosetown in many ways throughout her life. She served on the food committee and as a deacon with Armin, singing in choirs, teaching Sunday School, and doing children’s stories and readings during services. Caroline saw the church community as an extension of her family of God, and never ceased to be grateful for its support and care.
Caroline was an accomplished seamstress, cook, baker, and gardener. She delighted in creating good things, and in making things around her beautiful. This was apparent in the wonderful meals and new recipes she tried, and in the variety of baking she created to share with others. Neighbors, friends, Lionel and Sheralyn’s teachers, and later on Lionel and Sheralyn’s workplaces benefited each December from heaping plates of Christmas cookies. Her large garden and orchard provided many fruits and vegetables for eating, or preserving. Armin even built Caroline a small greenhouse so she could get a head start on the gardening season. Caroline also loved flowers and had many different varieties both in the garden and in the numerous flowerbeds all over the yard. Roses were her very favorite, and the blooms from her rose bed made their way into the house as long as they lasted. Armin made sure there were always fresh flowers in the house during the winter months for her. Caroline often said the garden was where she felt closest to God and would often pray and talk to God as she picked things or was weeding, and sometimes just took evening walks in the yard or garden to think and pray.
Caroline loved her family deeply. Her only sister Marlene was also her dear friend despite their 16-year age difference. Her children, Lionel and Sheralyn were raised with great love and devotion. Adding daughter-in-law Jackie Froese and son-in-law Dave Friesen just meant there were now more children to add around the kitchen table to feed and to love. Her grandchildren – first Evan, then Dayna, Ethan and Anton were a constant source of pride and joy. Babysitting and feeding them meals as younger children, and attending concerts, recitals, and the occasional sporting event were special times. Caroline just enjoyed hearing about their day-to-day events at work or school. And for both children and grandchildren, she faithfully prayed for them each and every day.
Caroline is survived by her beloved best friend and husband Armin, her son Lionel and daughter-in-law Jackie, daughter Sheralyn and son-in-law Dave Friesen, and her grandchildren Evan and Dayna Ens, and Ethan and Anton Friesen. She is also survived by siblings Ed (Emma), Almer (Agnes), Victor (Helen), Harold (Christine), and Marlene (Doug) Rogalsky. She is also survived by in-law Ens siblings: Abe (Helen), Werner (Marlene), Anna, Sara, Helen, and MaryAnne Zacharias. She is pre-deceased by her parents Annie and William V. Elias and sister-in-law Verna (Kuhl) Elias. She is also pre-deceased by Armin’s parents Gerhard and Helena Ens, and by brothers and sisters-in-law Gerhard and Anni Ens, Frank and Betty Ens, Ernie and Jean Ens, Henry Ens, Adolf Ens, Bill and Margaret Penner, and Frank Zacharias.
We as a family are grateful for the compassionate care of the staff at the Health Sciences Center during Caroline’s sudden passing, for the support of pastors and friends Rudy Franz and Randy Smart, and for the love and care of our family, friends, and church communities. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eden Foundation in Winkler.
(nee Elias)
March 13, 1931 - December 15, 2025
Caroline Ann Ens (nee Elias) was born on March 13, 1941 to Annie (Letkeman) and William V. Elias. The oldest of 6 children, she worked closely with her mom Annie on their farm in Blumenfeld, Manitoba, learning the value of hard work and to take pleasure in a job well done. Caroline especially enjoyed times spent with her extended Letkeman family, who made gatherings and workdays full of laughter and fun. From her mother Annie she learned to bake, to sew, to can, and to garden – things she continued to love throughout her entire life.
Caroline loved learning and excelled at school, memorizing dozens of poems and songs and developing such beautiful penmanship that she was asked to write out certificates during her time as a student at the MCI in Gretna. Through Jugenverein (youth group) events, she met Armin Ens. They began dating in 1958, while she finished teacher’s college in Winnipeg and as she began her teaching career at the Blumenort school in Gretna. They got married in 1965, and Caroline continued teaching for several years after their marriage in the villages of Schoenweise and Kronsthal.
The birth of their children, first Lionel and then Sheralyn, kept Caroline happy and busy as she managed a large garden and yard and household in Reinland. She sewed almost all the family’s clothes, faithfully drove both children to Morden for weekly piano lessons, and was happily involved in the village community events. The Reinland ladies sewing circle, fall suppers at the community centre and later on serving tour groups to the Reinland Heritage House were ways she enjoyed connecting with others. She cultivated many deep and enduring friendships with her neighbors. Hosting or attending ladies birthday lunches, or taking time to share some cookies or pie were always highlights for Caroline. She loved to feed others, and her guests always enjoyed her delicious food.
A strong faith and dependence on God was central to Caroline’s life. She was baptized as a teenager in the Reinland Rudneweider church, and was an active member of the Blumenort Mennonite Church in Rosetown in many ways throughout her life. She served on the food committee and as a deacon with Armin, singing in choirs, teaching Sunday School, and doing children’s stories and readings during services. Caroline saw the church community as an extension of her family of God, and never ceased to be grateful for its support and care.
Caroline was an accomplished seamstress, cook, baker, and gardener. She delighted in creating good things, and in making things around her beautiful. This was apparent in the wonderful meals and new recipes she tried, and in the variety of baking she created to share with others. Neighbors, friends, Lionel and Sheralyn’s teachers, and later on Lionel and Sheralyn’s workplaces benefited each December from heaping plates of Christmas cookies. Her large garden and orchard provided many fruits and vegetables for eating, or preserving. Armin even built Caroline a small greenhouse so she could get a head start on the gardening season. Caroline also loved flowers and had many different varieties both in the garden and in the numerous flowerbeds all over the yard. Roses were her very favorite, and the blooms from her rose bed made their way into the house as long as they lasted. Armin made sure there were always fresh flowers in the house during the winter months for her. Caroline often said the garden was where she felt closest to God and would often pray and talk to God as she picked things or was weeding, and sometimes just took evening walks in the yard or garden to think and pray.
Caroline loved her family deeply. Her only sister Marlene was also her dear friend despite their 16-year age difference. Her children, Lionel and Sheralyn were raised with great love and devotion. Adding daughter-in-law Jackie Froese and son-in-law Dave Friesen just meant there were now more children to add around the kitchen table to feed and to love. Her grandchildren – first Evan, then Dayna, Ethan and Anton were a constant source of pride and joy. Babysitting and feeding them meals as younger children, and attending concerts, recitals, and the occasional sporting event were special times. Caroline just enjoyed hearing about their day-to-day events at work or school. And for both children and grandchildren, she faithfully prayed for them each and every day.
Caroline is survived by her beloved best friend and husband Armin, her son Lionel and daughter-in-law Jackie, daughter Sheralyn and son-in-law Dave Friesen, and her grandchildren Evan and Dayna Ens, and Ethan and Anton Friesen. She is also survived by siblings Ed (Emma), Almer (Agnes), Victor (Helen), Harold (Christine), and Marlene (Doug) Rogalsky. She is also survived by in-law Ens siblings: Abe (Helen), Werner (Marlene), Anna, Sara, Helen, and MaryAnne Zacharias. She is pre-deceased by her parents Annie and William V. Elias and sister-in-law Verna (Kuhl) Elias. She is also pre-deceased by Armin’s parents Gerhard and Helena Ens, and by brothers and sisters-in-law Gerhard and Anni Ens, Frank and Betty Ens, Ernie and Jean Ens, Henry Ens, Adolf Ens, Bill and Margaret Penner, and Frank Zacharias.
We as a family are grateful for the compassionate care of the staff at the Health Sciences Center during Caroline’s sudden passing, for the support of pastors and friends Rudy Franz and Randy Smart, and for the love and care of our family, friends, and church communities. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eden Foundation in Winkler.