Obituary of Katherine Krahn
(nee Olfert)
Aged 93 years
March 08, 1932 ~ September 01, 2025
Katherine Krahn (nee Olfert) of Winkler, formerly of Miami, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 at the Peter George Dyck Villages on September 1, 2025, the same day her husband Ben passed away 7 years earlier. We are assured that her mind and body have been renewed and that she is spending eternity with Jesus, her beloved Savior, her husband Ben and her sons Gerald and Lyndon.
Katherine will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Joyce (Tony) and son Eldon (April), grandchildren, Kristin (Marv), Michael, Timothy, Evan, Jaiden, her great grandchildren, Emma and Benjamin and 2 sisters and one brother. She was predeceased by her husband, Ben (2018), son Gerald (2018) and son Lyndon (1990). She was also predeceased by her parents, 4 sisters and 3 brothers.
Katherine was born on March 8, 1932, to Herman and Elizabeth Olfert. She was the third child in a family of ten children. She spent her growing up years on a farm in the Blumstein district. She quit school as soon as she could because she didn’t like it. So, after completing Grade 7 she began working seasonal jobs such as hoeing beets. It was here that she met the love of her life, Ben Krahn. She fell in love with him and when he moved to Winnipeg, she followed him and began working at a coat factory. They married October 18, 1953. They made their home in Winnipeg, where their daughter, Joyce was born. Their desire was to farm so when they had saved up enough money, they purchased a farm near Miami and moved there in 1961. Their family was completed with the addition of three sons, Gerald, Eldon and Lyndon.
Through all the financial ups and downs and weather conditions that affected the farm, her passion for farming became strong. It was here, she developed a passion for landscaping and making the farm beautiful with different shrubs and flowers. She loved working alongside Ben. She never considered work on the farm because she and Ben loved it so much.
Katherine accepted Jesus as her Saviour at a young age. She and Ben served the Lord with passion. This was exemplified by the way they served in the Graysville Mennonite Church, and later in the Grace Mennonite when they retired to Winkler in 1990. In Winkler she spent 15 years volunteering at Salem and doing Meals on Wheels together with Dad. She also had more time to expand her creative passions, painting, doll making, and taking many other craft courses.
She enjoyed travelling with Ben in their retired years. Yuma, Arizona became a favourite. From there they would travel up to Oliver, BC and volunteer at the Gleaners, packing dry fruits and vegetables to be shipped to needy countries in the world. Being there also gave them the opportunity to visit their sisters on the weekends.
She loved her family and went to great lengths to care for their sons, Lyndon and Gerald before their passing. After Gerald’s and then Ben’s passing 4 weeks later in 2018, she was left in a state of lostness and trauma. Her family surrounded her as best they could. She was in severe hip pain which had gone on for many years. She was finally able to have it replaced in April of 2019. She recovered well. During her recovery it was decided to move her from Garden Park to the Buhler Active Living Center. She loved her little one-bedroom apartment that her family set up for her. But she had only spent 4 days there when she fell and broke that same hip.
This was trauma that her body and mind could not tolerate. She could no longer live on her own and take care of herself. The Lord provided with a home at the Peter George Villages at the Buhler Active Living Center. She would spend the next 6 years there.
Though she never knew where she was, she was loved and cared for by all staff right up until the day of her passing. Family was always told she was such a blessing to each one of them and even the life of the party at times.
She will be missed by all who loved and impacted their lives.
Thank you to Dr Lane who was willing to do home visits at the Villages to care for her medical needs. Her eyes would always light up when he entered her room. She loved holding his hands while he was talking to her.
We appreciated the care of the Palliative Care team, who became involved in the last weeks of her life. They were so compassionate.
Thank you to family and friends who were faithful in visiting and supporting her till the end of her life.
We, as a family, can’t say enough about the care she received she received at the Villages. Silver Lining Care staff took such amazing care of her till her last breath. She will be missed by them, and Katherine’s family will miss all the staff who also became a huge part of their lives. Friends forever!!
And to Kiley Wilson from Wiebe’s Funeral Home who once again did an excellent job of walking along side us and helping us with all the arrangements for Katherine’s celebration of life.
Praise be to the Lord, for He showed His wonderful love to me. Psalm 31:21
(nee Olfert)
Aged 93 years
March 08, 1932 ~ September 01, 2025
Katherine Krahn (nee Olfert) of Winkler, formerly of Miami, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 at the Peter George Dyck Villages on September 1, 2025, the same day her husband Ben passed away 7 years earlier. We are assured that her mind and body have been renewed and that she is spending eternity with Jesus, her beloved Savior, her husband Ben and her sons Gerald and Lyndon.
Katherine will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Joyce (Tony) and son Eldon (April), grandchildren, Kristin (Marv), Michael, Timothy, Evan, Jaiden, her great grandchildren, Emma and Benjamin and 2 sisters and one brother. She was predeceased by her husband, Ben (2018), son Gerald (2018) and son Lyndon (1990). She was also predeceased by her parents, 4 sisters and 3 brothers.
Katherine was born on March 8, 1932, to Herman and Elizabeth Olfert. She was the third child in a family of ten children. She spent her growing up years on a farm in the Blumstein district. She quit school as soon as she could because she didn’t like it. So, after completing Grade 7 she began working seasonal jobs such as hoeing beets. It was here that she met the love of her life, Ben Krahn. She fell in love with him and when he moved to Winnipeg, she followed him and began working at a coat factory. They married October 18, 1953. They made their home in Winnipeg, where their daughter, Joyce was born. Their desire was to farm so when they had saved up enough money, they purchased a farm near Miami and moved there in 1961. Their family was completed with the addition of three sons, Gerald, Eldon and Lyndon.
Through all the financial ups and downs and weather conditions that affected the farm, her passion for farming became strong. It was here, she developed a passion for landscaping and making the farm beautiful with different shrubs and flowers. She loved working alongside Ben. She never considered work on the farm because she and Ben loved it so much.
Katherine accepted Jesus as her Saviour at a young age. She and Ben served the Lord with passion. This was exemplified by the way they served in the Graysville Mennonite Church, and later in the Grace Mennonite when they retired to Winkler in 1990. In Winkler she spent 15 years volunteering at Salem and doing Meals on Wheels together with Dad. She also had more time to expand her creative passions, painting, doll making, and taking many other craft courses.
She enjoyed travelling with Ben in their retired years. Yuma, Arizona became a favourite. From there they would travel up to Oliver, BC and volunteer at the Gleaners, packing dry fruits and vegetables to be shipped to needy countries in the world. Being there also gave them the opportunity to visit their sisters on the weekends.
She loved her family and went to great lengths to care for their sons, Lyndon and Gerald before their passing. After Gerald’s and then Ben’s passing 4 weeks later in 2018, she was left in a state of lostness and trauma. Her family surrounded her as best they could. She was in severe hip pain which had gone on for many years. She was finally able to have it replaced in April of 2019. She recovered well. During her recovery it was decided to move her from Garden Park to the Buhler Active Living Center. She loved her little one-bedroom apartment that her family set up for her. But she had only spent 4 days there when she fell and broke that same hip.
This was trauma that her body and mind could not tolerate. She could no longer live on her own and take care of herself. The Lord provided with a home at the Peter George Villages at the Buhler Active Living Center. She would spend the next 6 years there.
Though she never knew where she was, she was loved and cared for by all staff right up until the day of her passing. Family was always told she was such a blessing to each one of them and even the life of the party at times.
She will be missed by all who loved and impacted their lives.
Thank you to Dr Lane who was willing to do home visits at the Villages to care for her medical needs. Her eyes would always light up when he entered her room. She loved holding his hands while he was talking to her.
We appreciated the care of the Palliative Care team, who became involved in the last weeks of her life. They were so compassionate.
Thank you to family and friends who were faithful in visiting and supporting her till the end of her life.
We, as a family, can’t say enough about the care she received she received at the Villages. Silver Lining Care staff took such amazing care of her till her last breath. She will be missed by them, and Katherine’s family will miss all the staff who also became a huge part of their lives. Friends forever!!
And to Kiley Wilson from Wiebe’s Funeral Home who once again did an excellent job of walking along side us and helping us with all the arrangements for Katherine’s celebration of life.
Praise be to the Lord, for He showed His wonderful love to me. Psalm 31:21