Peacefully, after a long illness, Philipp R. Ens died at St. Boniface Hospital, on May 11, 2024, at the age of 84.
Phil was born in Reinland, MB on September 9, 1939, to Maria (Wiebe) and Heinrich G. Ens. His parents emigrated from south Russia in 1923, and for several years they shared a traditional Mennonite house barn with Phil’s grandparents before the growing family moved into their own home across the road. Although those early years were challenging, Phil often said that every person should be so fortunate to have a childhood like his, filled with family, friends, sports, games and music. He remembered the poems and German songs from those days and sang and recited them from his hospital bed in his last weeks.
He developed a deep love for horses and a strong connection to the land in Reinland which he cherished throughout his life. In his last years, he enjoyed trips to the country to see the crops and learn about the innovative farming practices on his grandson-in-law’s family farm.
Phil attended Reinland School, Mennonite Collegiate Institute, and later earned his high school diploma from Winkler (now Garden Valley) Collegiate as a married man. He also attended Elim Bible Institute in Altona, MB and Canadian Mennonite Bible College, now CMU, where he took courses in music, conducting and biblical studies. Later, he undertook part-time studies in accounting and business administration at Red River College.
In 1960, he married Katy Enns of Greenfarm, MB and their first two children were born in 1961 and 1962. To support his growing family, Phil stepped out of his formal conducting studies and joined his father-in-law’s plumbing and heating business. In 1965, Phil became partners with father-in-law Peter W. Enns and brother-in-law Peter Elias to form Triple E Canada Ltd., a manufacturer of recreational vehicles and transportation equipment.
With this business, he wanted to created jobs for local people and support the economy of Winkler. He credited the growth of the company to the community and the dedicated team that continues to share his vision. He served as president and CEO from 1969 to 1998, and then as chairman until his death, leading the 58th annual general meeting in November of 2023. Until last summer, he commuted regularly to Winkler from Winnipeg and remained interested and involved in the discussions of day-to-day operations. He was never afraid of hiring people smarter than him and he was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of people younger than him. Over the last year he moved into the role of elder statesman of the company, supporting and mentoring his employees with the unique ability to make people feel seen and appreciated. He felt strongly about serving the community where he had spent most of his life and where his employees lived.
Phil and Katy and their four children enjoyed life on their hobby farm just west of Winkler, working together to build the business, raising horses, planting trees and serving on many boards and committees in their church and community. The family travelled in Triple E motorhomes during vacations, including a memorable month-long journey to Belize. In 1968, he took flying lessons with his father-in-law, and both became licensed private pilots. He flew small planes across the continent and into Mexico and Cuba and claimed he nearly got lost in the Bermuda Triangle. He loved sports, playing softball and hockey in his youth, including a time with the Winkler Royals, and was an avid golfer for many decades. He coached the GVC hockey team for a season, mentoring players like Ray Neufeld, who went on to play in the NHL, and retrofitted a Triple E motorhome to use as a team bus. He was a long-time fan of the Winnipeg Jets and watched playoff games from his hospital room.
Although music did not become his career as he had originally hoped, it modulated into a lifetime passion. For many years, Phil and Katy served their church as conductor and accompanist. He instilled the love of music, specifically choral singing. into the hearts and lives of his children. He was a founding member of the Faith and Life Choir Male Choir and sang in the baritone section for 30 years.
He was passionate about supporting Christian education and believed that academic institutions needed to produce solid leaders in every discipline, including leaders grounded in faith. He felt a deep sense of responsibility to acknowledge the gifts he had received by giving back in return, both with financial donations and by donating the use of Triple E motorhomes. He was a generous financial supporter of Mennonite institutions, community music groups and humanitarian organizations but he preferred not to have public recognition for his generosity. He humbly accepted many accolades for his philanthropic endeavours, including the Order of Manitoba in 2017.
He was devastated by the death of Katy in 2000 after nearly 40 years of marriage. Mutual friends introduced him to Ilse Krentz and they married in 2001. Since both lost their spouses early, they were grateful for the companionship and forged a new life chapter together in Winnipeg. They enjoyed music, traveling, church life, and many friendships in Winnipeg and Palm Desert, where they spent many winters.
Phil was a humble and fair man with a curious mind and lifelong interest in learning. He had an intelligent faith and over the years he deconstructed and then reconstructed the lens to view and make sense of his childhood faith. He was comfortable with having more questions than answers. He retained his membership in the Mennonite church but also adopted Ilse’s Lutheran congregation and together they enjoyed many meaningful experiences within both traditions.
In his last years, Phil struggled with severe orthostatic hypotension which caused him debilitating fatigue and weakness. In March, he received news of a tumour in his lungs. He continued to embrace hope and life and fought hard to defy his diagnosis. His last weeks were filled with meaningful bedside conversations with family, friends and colleagues. His visitors left his hospital room feeling enriched. Even in his last days, he cared for and showed interest in others, blessing all who came his way. His faith sustained him, and he was comforted by endless nights of hockey playoffs, poetry, choral music, and hymns.
Philipp R. Ens was predeceased by his first wife Katy, his parents, parents-in-law, three sisters and two brothers.
Left to miss his relentless optimism and grounding wisdom is his wife of 23 years, Ilse Krentz Ens, his children Flori (Jamie), Johanna (Alexander), Phillip (Bridget) Peter (Karla); grandchildren: Emma (Alex), Johanna (Elijah) and their daughter Rorie; Caden, Ava, and William and step-grandchildren Ella, Johanna (Sebastian) and their daughter Sofia; and Charlotte (Simon). Also mourning his loss are Ilse’s children Kelly (Rowena), David (Kim), Mark (Naing), and grandchildren Jonathan, Adam, Maya, Jade, Theo, Atticus, Althea. He is also survived by brothers George (Margaret) and Alvin (Ruth), sisters Meg Suderman, Lydia Zacharias, Esther (Glen) Janzen, several siblings-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral and celebration of his life will take place 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16 at Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church, 252 6th St., Winkler, MB.
The family is grateful for the warm and sensitive care during the numerous weeks Phil spent at St. Boniface Hospital, especially while on the 8th floor palliative care unit. Thanks also to the many visitors who lovingly visited Phil in his final weeks. We are forever grateful.
Memorial donations can be made to Winkler Community Foundation (https://winklercommunityfoundation.com/donate-now/) or to Canadian Mennonite University (https://www.cmu.ca/give). Alternatively, consider bestowing a random act of kindness on someone who needs it.
Phil was born in Reinland, MB on September 9, 1939, to Maria (Wiebe) and Heinrich G. Ens. His parents emigrated from south Russia in 1923, and for several years they shared a traditional Mennonite house barn with Phil’s grandparents before the growing family moved into their own home across the road. Although those early years were challenging, Phil often said that every person should be so fortunate to have a childhood like his, filled with family, friends, sports, games and music. He remembered the poems and German songs from those days and sang and recited them from his hospital bed in his last weeks.
He developed a deep love for horses and a strong connection to the land in Reinland which he cherished throughout his life. In his last years, he enjoyed trips to the country to see the crops and learn about the innovative farming practices on his grandson-in-law’s family farm.
Phil attended Reinland School, Mennonite Collegiate Institute, and later earned his high school diploma from Winkler (now Garden Valley) Collegiate as a married man. He also attended Elim Bible Institute in Altona, MB and Canadian Mennonite Bible College, now CMU, where he took courses in music, conducting and biblical studies. Later, he undertook part-time studies in accounting and business administration at Red River College.
In 1960, he married Katy Enns of Greenfarm, MB and their first two children were born in 1961 and 1962. To support his growing family, Phil stepped out of his formal conducting studies and joined his father-in-law’s plumbing and heating business. In 1965, Phil became partners with father-in-law Peter W. Enns and brother-in-law Peter Elias to form Triple E Canada Ltd., a manufacturer of recreational vehicles and transportation equipment.
With this business, he wanted to created jobs for local people and support the economy of Winkler. He credited the growth of the company to the community and the dedicated team that continues to share his vision. He served as president and CEO from 1969 to 1998, and then as chairman until his death, leading the 58th annual general meeting in November of 2023. Until last summer, he commuted regularly to Winkler from Winnipeg and remained interested and involved in the discussions of day-to-day operations. He was never afraid of hiring people smarter than him and he was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of people younger than him. Over the last year he moved into the role of elder statesman of the company, supporting and mentoring his employees with the unique ability to make people feel seen and appreciated. He felt strongly about serving the community where he had spent most of his life and where his employees lived.
Phil and Katy and their four children enjoyed life on their hobby farm just west of Winkler, working together to build the business, raising horses, planting trees and serving on many boards and committees in their church and community. The family travelled in Triple E motorhomes during vacations, including a memorable month-long journey to Belize. In 1968, he took flying lessons with his father-in-law, and both became licensed private pilots. He flew small planes across the continent and into Mexico and Cuba and claimed he nearly got lost in the Bermuda Triangle. He loved sports, playing softball and hockey in his youth, including a time with the Winkler Royals, and was an avid golfer for many decades. He coached the GVC hockey team for a season, mentoring players like Ray Neufeld, who went on to play in the NHL, and retrofitted a Triple E motorhome to use as a team bus. He was a long-time fan of the Winnipeg Jets and watched playoff games from his hospital room.
Although music did not become his career as he had originally hoped, it modulated into a lifetime passion. For many years, Phil and Katy served their church as conductor and accompanist. He instilled the love of music, specifically choral singing. into the hearts and lives of his children. He was a founding member of the Faith and Life Choir Male Choir and sang in the baritone section for 30 years.
He was passionate about supporting Christian education and believed that academic institutions needed to produce solid leaders in every discipline, including leaders grounded in faith. He felt a deep sense of responsibility to acknowledge the gifts he had received by giving back in return, both with financial donations and by donating the use of Triple E motorhomes. He was a generous financial supporter of Mennonite institutions, community music groups and humanitarian organizations but he preferred not to have public recognition for his generosity. He humbly accepted many accolades for his philanthropic endeavours, including the Order of Manitoba in 2017.
He was devastated by the death of Katy in 2000 after nearly 40 years of marriage. Mutual friends introduced him to Ilse Krentz and they married in 2001. Since both lost their spouses early, they were grateful for the companionship and forged a new life chapter together in Winnipeg. They enjoyed music, traveling, church life, and many friendships in Winnipeg and Palm Desert, where they spent many winters.
Phil was a humble and fair man with a curious mind and lifelong interest in learning. He had an intelligent faith and over the years he deconstructed and then reconstructed the lens to view and make sense of his childhood faith. He was comfortable with having more questions than answers. He retained his membership in the Mennonite church but also adopted Ilse’s Lutheran congregation and together they enjoyed many meaningful experiences within both traditions.
In his last years, Phil struggled with severe orthostatic hypotension which caused him debilitating fatigue and weakness. In March, he received news of a tumour in his lungs. He continued to embrace hope and life and fought hard to defy his diagnosis. His last weeks were filled with meaningful bedside conversations with family, friends and colleagues. His visitors left his hospital room feeling enriched. Even in his last days, he cared for and showed interest in others, blessing all who came his way. His faith sustained him, and he was comforted by endless nights of hockey playoffs, poetry, choral music, and hymns.
Philipp R. Ens was predeceased by his first wife Katy, his parents, parents-in-law, three sisters and two brothers.
Left to miss his relentless optimism and grounding wisdom is his wife of 23 years, Ilse Krentz Ens, his children Flori (Jamie), Johanna (Alexander), Phillip (Bridget) Peter (Karla); grandchildren: Emma (Alex), Johanna (Elijah) and their daughter Rorie; Caden, Ava, and William and step-grandchildren Ella, Johanna (Sebastian) and their daughter Sofia; and Charlotte (Simon). Also mourning his loss are Ilse’s children Kelly (Rowena), David (Kim), Mark (Naing), and grandchildren Jonathan, Adam, Maya, Jade, Theo, Atticus, Althea. He is also survived by brothers George (Margaret) and Alvin (Ruth), sisters Meg Suderman, Lydia Zacharias, Esther (Glen) Janzen, several siblings-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral and celebration of his life will take place 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16 at Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church, 252 6th St., Winkler, MB.
The family is grateful for the warm and sensitive care during the numerous weeks Phil spent at St. Boniface Hospital, especially while on the 8th floor palliative care unit. Thanks also to the many visitors who lovingly visited Phil in his final weeks. We are forever grateful.
Memorial donations can be made to Winkler Community Foundation (https://winklercommunityfoundation.com/donate-now/) or to Canadian Mennonite University (https://www.cmu.ca/give). Alternatively, consider bestowing a random act of kindness on someone who needs it.