Gertrude Helen Giesbrecht (nee Brown)
1925 - 2021
Mom was born on June 23, 1925 to Isaac and Gertrude (nee Giesbrecht) Brown. She was the 5th child in a family of nine. She had one older sister, Annie, three older brothers, Jacob, George and John and two younger brothers, Peter and Billy, two younger sisters, Hannah and Louella. They grew up in the Rose farm area and she attended school there. Growing up, she was able to take piano lessons from an aunt and she and Hannah played many duets together and her love for music began. Mom was baptized in the Lowe Farm Bergthaler Mennonite Church in 1943 and together with Dad, transferred her membership to the Winkler Bergthaler Church in the early 1980’s. Mom met Dad through her older brothers and they were married on October 1st, 1944. They lived in Winnipeg for 2 1/2 years, where mom worked at a sewing factory. In 1947, they started their own farm in the Kronsweide district, near Lowe Farm. Here they worked together to establish a home and a livelihood and raise a family. They were blessed with two children, MaryAnn in 1948 and Rick in 1952. MaryAnn told me that mom had hoped for a large family, but due to health issues in those early years, that was not to be. They worked together on the farm; mom was very involved in the farming activities. She also taught piano lessons for 15 years, charging $1 per lesson early on. Mom also gave accordion lessons and she told me music was very important to her mother and she made it a big part of MaryAnn and Rick’s growing up years, too. Mom and Dad always took time for devotions at the breakfast table and reading the Bible. Mom read through her Bible many times and often it became a topic of discussion. In later years, she would spend time reading it more often. She had a strong faith in God, and it showed in everything she did. She and Dad played and sang together a lot, enjoying the gift of music. Mom also played accordion for the Kronsweide ladies’ group when they had special programs. Mom was also a good singer and Mrs. Wiens liked to share how mom taught her to sing alto. Mom and Dad semi-retired in 1981, building a new house in Winkler. This home had three bedrooms and a playroom and she made sure her grandchildren got to stay overnight any time. There was lots of room to spread out and enjoy family gatherings. There was always plenty of good food, too. Especially dessert! Here, in Winkler, mom started playing piano in church and for many years played for the women’s advent choir. It was a popular event and we made sure we were there to support her. Mom and Dad did some travelling during this time and enjoyed many winter trips to Arizona. Mom would have loved to stay longer to enjoy the blossoms of spring, but Dad felt he needed to be home to help Rick get ready for seeding. Lots of friendships were made there and once they fully retired, they enjoyed many evenings with friends, playing games and going to music events. In 2003, mom and dad made the move to Cedar Estates. Here, they joined in social gatherings and making more friends. Mom was soon on the list to play piano at monthly birthday parties, and she still continued to play piano in church but not as frequently. In 2007, Dad’s health began to deteriorate, and for two years mom was his faithful caregiver, even while he was in Salem home. Dad passed away in October of 2009 and Mom felt lost. Thanks to siblings, both hers and Dad’s and close friends she had lots of company and they included her in many outings. Mom was a very sharp dresser and loved to shop, and a trip to Winnipeg was always a highlight. She would bring Hannah, Marie and later, Louella to Lowe Farm and then I would chauffeur them to St. Vital, then lunch followed by Nygard’s and Costco. Supper, too if they weren’t too tired. And if all went well, there would be something to return, so we could go back again!
Mom was able to do some travelling in these later years, staying with George and MaryAnn in their winter home in Arizona. We spent time with her there too and took her to many places her and dad had enjoyed years earlier. She loved the shopping there, too. She would check with Rick about how much money she should take along, not wanting to run out! In these years, mom began to work at the MCC store. This became a passion, working with discarded flower arrangements, taking them apart, washing the good stuff and rebuilding them to be sold in the store. What was usually a Friday job, became more during the holiday seasons because they would sell so quickly, they couldn’t keep the shelves stocked. And she loved doing it! Once this became too much, there were other ladies willing to take on more of the workload. Then she started going to Plum Coulee MCC Warehouse every Tuesday to help make blankets. It was a sisters’ outing; Hannah, Marie, Mom and Louella would meet them there. Sometimes they would have lunch together. This continued until COVID-19 caused the warehouse to close, but it was becoming too long a day for mom, too. Sadly, during this time, MaryAnn’s health issues became more evident and in November of last year, she passed away. This was very difficult for mom, not being able to visit when she was in hospital or attend the graveside service. Many times she would say it just wasn’t real or right that she outlived her daughter.
This last year and a half mom had been out very little. The less she went out the slower she moved around in her own home. She had a very sore hip, so she was using her walker most of the time. One of her last outings was June 23rd, her 96th birthday, and spent time at Rhonda and Isaac’s, having supper with them and desserts of course! In the last couple of years, mom and Aunt Louella began eating most of their meals together and enjoying each other’s company. They began playing piano duets together, and we were recipients of their performances. As recently as Thanksgiving Sunday, they played some of their old favourite hymns for us. Sadly on Saturday October 23rd, Mom suffered a stroke and was taken to Boundary Trails Health Centre. Here, she was very well cared for until her passing early on Sunday morning, November 7th. We were able to spend some precious time with her there along with each of her granddaughters. We will miss her, but we have been so blessed by her life and we rejoice that she is with the Lord.
Left to mourn her passing is her son, Rick, wife, Liz of Lowe Farm and son-in-law, George Swojanovski of Morden, five granddaughters, Sheri (Scott), Jayme (Jason), Dana (Alex), Rhonda (Isaac) and Kim (Devon), four great grandsons and seven great granddaughters, one sister, Louella Peters, two sisters-in-law, Marie Brown and Sophie Brown and one brother-in-law, Eddie Penner and many nieces and nephews and friends. Mom was predeceased by her husband, Bill and her daughter, MaryAnn.
Private funeral service with interment at the Winkler Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Gertrude’s memory to the MCC. We want to thank the medical staff of Boundary Trails Health Centre, their care and compassion for Mom and us, the family was heartfelt. Thank you to Wiebe Funeral Home for your guidance and help in the funeral planning and service and thank you to Pastor Dean Huber for your service and guidance for mom’s funeral.
Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler