Cornelius ‘Corny’ Unger
April 19, 1936 – August 4, 2025
Corny lived up to his name. His sense of humour and ability to pull pranks were a constant joy to his family and friends. But more than that, he was a man who had a deep faith, was humble, demonstrated consistent love and support for his family, had wisdom, practical knowledge, kindness, and compassion.
His childhood years were spent on the farm in Ile des Chenes where his love of animals was evident. The farm taught him about working hard, which continued throughout his life.
He held a variety of jobs. One being in 1956 at Winnipeg Eaton’s shipping and receiving, where he met the love of his life, Martha, working in the mail order department. He found his mail order bride. When she and her family moved to California their relationship took them to the pay phone where Corny found a sympathetic operator who allowed them to talk uninterrupted and then at the end of the call told him how much coin to put in the phone. Corny took many trips down to California and they were married January 24, 1958, and he brought Martha back to Canada. They settled in Niverville, where in typical Mennonite fashion they welcomed Annette, Ron, and Gerry in quick succession. In 1963 they packed up and moved to Thompson where Corny started working at Inco in several different areas of the mine operation. During this time Allen was born.
1969 was a transition year, Rob was born, Corny left Inco and purchased a business, Crosstown Delivery; a business that delivered groceries, Simpson-Sears parcels, appliances, and furniture. The older children were cheap labour to deliver the Sears catalogues and flyers. In 1974 he sold the business and returned to Inco working in the transportation department. He trained on every piece of heavy equipment, and then on the heaviest equipment of all, the ore train. From brakeman to engineer, he loved it. After an accident he went on light duty work which resulted in him being promoted to salaried staff as the transportation supervisor. Every person in the transportation department had a nickname, by accident he found out his, ‘the preacher’, not necessarily in words but in actions.
During the first year of returning to Inco, Corny and Martha felt the need to open a Christian Book Store for Thompson and Praise Book Centre opened in 1975. The store serviced Thompson and northern Manitoba’s Christian community as well becoming a favourite supplier of wedding invitations and decorations. In 1989 they closed the store. On December 10, 1993, Corny retired and he and Martha moved to Morden.
He lived his faith in a quiet way. In his younger years volunteering in church, on mission boards, and at Midway Bible Camp. In retirement he couldn’t sit and be a snowbird; he and Martha decided to make their retirement count by volunteering with RVICS, Roving Volunteers in Christ’s Service, traveling and volunteering at various mission organizations in Canada and the US, spending 3 to 6 months a year in their RV. Much time was spent at Midway Bible Camp doing maintenance, purchasing equipment, and hauling it up north to the camp. Nothing gave him more pleasure than to be sitting on a large piece of equipment maintaining or creating a good road, moving earth with a loader, or on a tractor with forks moving whatever was needed for the project. They became youth grandparents at Morden EMMC Church, interacting, being a listening ear, an example of how to live and giving unconditional love to the youth. They also would use their RV to travel to the Interlake region and support the youth VBS mission team. Shopping for food and preparing all the meals for the team. An example of providing support wherever needed.
Family and friends could always count on Corny for support in whatever they were doing. Whether it be supporting missions trips, building or renovating a house, moving, or advice on a situation, he was always ready to help. In later retirement years, he started to strip... strip wires, motors, anything people brought him and he would recycle the metal. His eyes lit up when he found #1 copper. He watched the price of metals and when copper was high, or his workspace was full, it was off to Urban Mine to turn in the metal and collect the money so he could donate it to Midway Bible Camp.
Corny loved to fish, passing that love to his children and grandchildren. He was also a fisher of men, and his greatest desire was to have his family in heaven with him.
Corny is survived by his wife of 67.5 years, Martha, his 5 children and spouses, 13 grandchildren and spouses, 16 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, 5 sisters-in-law, 3 brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Helena Unger, a grandson, a great-grandchild, 4 brothers, 4 sisters, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
The family would like to thank the Cancer Care nurses and doctors, especially Dr. Brown at HSC, Dr. Woelk at BTHC Community Cancer Care, Palliative and Home Care, for their care and support this last year.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Midway Bible Camp through InterAct Ministries Box 559, Crossfield, AB TOM 0S0, online GIVE – InterAct Ministries (Please specify Midway Bible Camp Maintenance Building) or to Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation - Community Cancer Care, by mail with donation form, online Home - BTHC Foundation .
A Memorial Service will be held, 11 a.m. Monday, August 11, 2025, at Glencross Mennonite Church, 7080 Rd 27W, Glencross, MB. which will also be livestreamed, link as follows: https://youtube.com/@glencrosschurch9740?si=mxgdoeis256cd5g
April 19, 1936 – August 4, 2025
Corny lived up to his name. His sense of humour and ability to pull pranks were a constant joy to his family and friends. But more than that, he was a man who had a deep faith, was humble, demonstrated consistent love and support for his family, had wisdom, practical knowledge, kindness, and compassion.
His childhood years were spent on the farm in Ile des Chenes where his love of animals was evident. The farm taught him about working hard, which continued throughout his life.
He held a variety of jobs. One being in 1956 at Winnipeg Eaton’s shipping and receiving, where he met the love of his life, Martha, working in the mail order department. He found his mail order bride. When she and her family moved to California their relationship took them to the pay phone where Corny found a sympathetic operator who allowed them to talk uninterrupted and then at the end of the call told him how much coin to put in the phone. Corny took many trips down to California and they were married January 24, 1958, and he brought Martha back to Canada. They settled in Niverville, where in typical Mennonite fashion they welcomed Annette, Ron, and Gerry in quick succession. In 1963 they packed up and moved to Thompson where Corny started working at Inco in several different areas of the mine operation. During this time Allen was born.
1969 was a transition year, Rob was born, Corny left Inco and purchased a business, Crosstown Delivery; a business that delivered groceries, Simpson-Sears parcels, appliances, and furniture. The older children were cheap labour to deliver the Sears catalogues and flyers. In 1974 he sold the business and returned to Inco working in the transportation department. He trained on every piece of heavy equipment, and then on the heaviest equipment of all, the ore train. From brakeman to engineer, he loved it. After an accident he went on light duty work which resulted in him being promoted to salaried staff as the transportation supervisor. Every person in the transportation department had a nickname, by accident he found out his, ‘the preacher’, not necessarily in words but in actions.
During the first year of returning to Inco, Corny and Martha felt the need to open a Christian Book Store for Thompson and Praise Book Centre opened in 1975. The store serviced Thompson and northern Manitoba’s Christian community as well becoming a favourite supplier of wedding invitations and decorations. In 1989 they closed the store. On December 10, 1993, Corny retired and he and Martha moved to Morden.
He lived his faith in a quiet way. In his younger years volunteering in church, on mission boards, and at Midway Bible Camp. In retirement he couldn’t sit and be a snowbird; he and Martha decided to make their retirement count by volunteering with RVICS, Roving Volunteers in Christ’s Service, traveling and volunteering at various mission organizations in Canada and the US, spending 3 to 6 months a year in their RV. Much time was spent at Midway Bible Camp doing maintenance, purchasing equipment, and hauling it up north to the camp. Nothing gave him more pleasure than to be sitting on a large piece of equipment maintaining or creating a good road, moving earth with a loader, or on a tractor with forks moving whatever was needed for the project. They became youth grandparents at Morden EMMC Church, interacting, being a listening ear, an example of how to live and giving unconditional love to the youth. They also would use their RV to travel to the Interlake region and support the youth VBS mission team. Shopping for food and preparing all the meals for the team. An example of providing support wherever needed.
Family and friends could always count on Corny for support in whatever they were doing. Whether it be supporting missions trips, building or renovating a house, moving, or advice on a situation, he was always ready to help. In later retirement years, he started to strip... strip wires, motors, anything people brought him and he would recycle the metal. His eyes lit up when he found #1 copper. He watched the price of metals and when copper was high, or his workspace was full, it was off to Urban Mine to turn in the metal and collect the money so he could donate it to Midway Bible Camp.
Corny loved to fish, passing that love to his children and grandchildren. He was also a fisher of men, and his greatest desire was to have his family in heaven with him.
Corny is survived by his wife of 67.5 years, Martha, his 5 children and spouses, 13 grandchildren and spouses, 16 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, 5 sisters-in-law, 3 brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Helena Unger, a grandson, a great-grandchild, 4 brothers, 4 sisters, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
The family would like to thank the Cancer Care nurses and doctors, especially Dr. Brown at HSC, Dr. Woelk at BTHC Community Cancer Care, Palliative and Home Care, for their care and support this last year.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Midway Bible Camp through InterAct Ministries Box 559, Crossfield, AB TOM 0S0, online GIVE – InterAct Ministries (Please specify Midway Bible Camp Maintenance Building) or to Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation - Community Cancer Care, by mail with donation form, online Home - BTHC Foundation .
A Memorial Service will be held, 11 a.m. Monday, August 11, 2025, at Glencross Mennonite Church, 7080 Rd 27W, Glencross, MB. which will also be livestreamed, link as follows: https://youtube.com/@glencrosschurch9740?si=mxgdoeis256cd5g