Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Rosalinda Wiebe (Klassen) went to meet her Lord on October 30, 2023 at the age of 95 years. Linda (Rosalinda) was born on July 20, 1928 to David J. and Katherine Klassen, the sixth of 12 children. Linda was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Elmer Richard Wiebe in 2007, both her parents; her parents-in-law, David G. and Magdalena Wiebe; 5 brothers, 2 sisters, 6 brothers-in-law, 6 sisters-in-law, 3 nephews and 1 niece-in-law.
Linda was born on the family farm in Rosenfeld, Manitoba. Being the middle child (the oldest 2 siblings passed away of scarlet fever as youngsters), she was a second pair of hands for her mother, helping to keep her younger siblings clothed, bathed and at times, rocked to sleep. Her red hair earned her a reputation as lively and determined even at a young age. However, she is fondly remembered by her younger siblings for her loving care and, later in life, as a trusted friend. She was such a good sister that she even accompanied her younger brother to his high school graduation as his date.
Linda’s faith in God was formed early in life and she accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized at the age of 19 at the Plum Coulee Mennonite Bergthaler Church. Her prayer vigils throughout her life sustained her and her family through many trials.
After the family moved to the farm outside Carman, Manitoba, Linda attended high school in Winkler, boarding with several other young women. After staying home for a year to help with the growing family, she convinced her father to support her in attending registered nurses training at St. Boniface General Hospital from 1948-51. These were challenging and also joyful times- the classroom and shiftwork made for long days and stretches away from home, where she was missed. However, she made many lifelong friends and became immersed in the profession she loved and practiced for most of her adult life. One of many experiences was working for 2 weeks during the 1950 Winnipeg flood at the Winnipeg General Hospital as it was known then, without any orientation or assistance in finding her way across the flooded city to go on duty.
After graduation, Linda returned to Carman and began her nursing career at the Carman General Hospital. There, as fate would have it, a handsome young farmer from Homewood was admitted briefly - the rest is history. Elmer and Linda courted and were married on November 25, 1953.
The newlyweds set up their first home in a makeshift granary on Elmer's parents' farmyard. With no running water or indoor plumbing, early married life was challenging, but soon they were blessed by their first son Brian in September 1954. The arrival of daughter Katherine in July 1956 coincided with the move to their own homestead a mile to the west in another makeshift home. While Elmer worked hard on the farm, Linda was the untiring force that fed the growing number of mouths, including farm hands. Aside from planting and harvesting a large garden, she also took occasional shifts at the hospital to help with the farm finances. 1959 brought more changes with the arrival of Bernard in September, and the move to a new home on their farm, built by Elmer with the help of his brothers and brothers-in-law. Finally in November 1963 the family was completed with the birth of Brent.
Elmer and Linda both became members of the Homewood Bergthaler Mennonite Church upon their marriage, and were stalwart leaders of the church until it closed its doors in 1999. Serving as deacons, Sunday School teachers and attending Mennonite Church conferences provincially and nationally were part of Elmer and Linda's service commitment to their faith.
Linda continued nursing at intervals throughout her life, working in the Carman doctors' office for many years, and then at the Boyne Lodge from 1980-1995. Never one to be idle, besides supporting the farm, Linda was a volunteer chaplain at the Health Sciences Centre for 20 years and was recognized with a Service Excellence award in 2006. Linda volunteered for the Carman Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Thrift Store from its inception until she was 90. She was also a committed support for the Carman Palliative Care Society, providing many hours of companionship and comfort. Elmer and Linda both spent many years as school bus drivers, and the stories of Linda’s driving practices were legendary.
Sadly, much of the spark left Linda's life when Elmer passed away unexpectedly in 2007. Having spent many years ensuring he received the best care for a life-altering chronic disease early in their marriage, adjustment to life without him was perhaps Linda's greatest challenge. The love of her family, and in particular her grandchildren and great-grandchildren returned some of the joy in her life. She moved from the farm to a townhouse in Carman and experienced, for the first time, learning to fill leisure time. Characteristically she continued to immerse herself in the work of the church and community volunteer work, including at the Boyne Lodge until the age of 92.
Linda's greatest joys were caring for others, feeding her family and gaining compliments from Elmer and the community at large for her legendary homemade buns, cinnamon and orange buns. Her baking helped to celebrate countless anniversaries and birthdays and ease many losses. She was loved by all her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews for the birthday and anniversary cards that showed up unfailingly with a loonie inside. We also came to appreciate the many cards, books, flowers and baking Linda delivered to the patients she visited in hospital and anyone in the community that was experiencing hardship.
Linda's final years brought the difficulties of learning to cope with increasing immobility and frailty. Never one to give in without a fight, she had many miraculous recoveries from episodes of failing health until the Lord called her home, to be at peace.
Linda leaves to mourn her children and their spouses, Brian and Shawna Wiebe, Keith and Katherine Stansfield, Bernard and Kimberly Wiebe and Brent and Annie Wiebe; her grandchildren, their partners and children, Kara Wiebe and Travis Cooke, Madden, Hadley and Ellis Cooke; Korry and Jodine Wiebe, Ethan, Marissa and Noel Wiebe; Kirstin and Levi Elford, Paisley, Kaleb and Rylan Elford; Jaden and Stacey Wiebe and Grayson Wiebe; Dylan Stansfield and Jessica Fisher, Laura Stansfield and Ian Dickinson, Kaitlin Stansfield and Emily Keeler; Matthew and Simon Wiebe; David, Katrina and Richard Wiebe. Linda also leaves her sisters Ella Neufeld, Hildegarde (Henry) Peters, Mathilda Cassidy, brother Menno Klassen (Mary Campbell) and sister-in-law Vicki Sharp; brothers-in-law Walter Wiebe, Clifford Friesen, Rollin (Alice) Wiebe and sisters-in-law Ruth (Allan) Wiebe and Rita Friesen and many, many beloved nieces, nephews and their families.
The family acknowledges with gratitude the loving care Linda received from her physicians and nurse practitioners, Marnie Fry and the “In Good Hands’ care team and the many nurses, healthcare aides, activity workers and staff at the Boyne Lodge. She was unfailingly cared for with respect, love and compassion.
Linda's exuberant personality, dedication to helping others and her strong faith in God and the power of prayer will always be remembered with love by her family and all who knew her. She lived a full and rich life that inspired us all and we rejoice that she is now in the company of angels.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Carman Mennonite Church, with internment to follow. Viewing will be Sunday, November 5 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Doyle’s Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, Carman Palliative Care or the Boyne Lodge, Carman.
Linda was born on the family farm in Rosenfeld, Manitoba. Being the middle child (the oldest 2 siblings passed away of scarlet fever as youngsters), she was a second pair of hands for her mother, helping to keep her younger siblings clothed, bathed and at times, rocked to sleep. Her red hair earned her a reputation as lively and determined even at a young age. However, she is fondly remembered by her younger siblings for her loving care and, later in life, as a trusted friend. She was such a good sister that she even accompanied her younger brother to his high school graduation as his date.
Linda’s faith in God was formed early in life and she accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized at the age of 19 at the Plum Coulee Mennonite Bergthaler Church. Her prayer vigils throughout her life sustained her and her family through many trials.
After the family moved to the farm outside Carman, Manitoba, Linda attended high school in Winkler, boarding with several other young women. After staying home for a year to help with the growing family, she convinced her father to support her in attending registered nurses training at St. Boniface General Hospital from 1948-51. These were challenging and also joyful times- the classroom and shiftwork made for long days and stretches away from home, where she was missed. However, she made many lifelong friends and became immersed in the profession she loved and practiced for most of her adult life. One of many experiences was working for 2 weeks during the 1950 Winnipeg flood at the Winnipeg General Hospital as it was known then, without any orientation or assistance in finding her way across the flooded city to go on duty.
After graduation, Linda returned to Carman and began her nursing career at the Carman General Hospital. There, as fate would have it, a handsome young farmer from Homewood was admitted briefly - the rest is history. Elmer and Linda courted and were married on November 25, 1953.
The newlyweds set up their first home in a makeshift granary on Elmer's parents' farmyard. With no running water or indoor plumbing, early married life was challenging, but soon they were blessed by their first son Brian in September 1954. The arrival of daughter Katherine in July 1956 coincided with the move to their own homestead a mile to the west in another makeshift home. While Elmer worked hard on the farm, Linda was the untiring force that fed the growing number of mouths, including farm hands. Aside from planting and harvesting a large garden, she also took occasional shifts at the hospital to help with the farm finances. 1959 brought more changes with the arrival of Bernard in September, and the move to a new home on their farm, built by Elmer with the help of his brothers and brothers-in-law. Finally in November 1963 the family was completed with the birth of Brent.
Elmer and Linda both became members of the Homewood Bergthaler Mennonite Church upon their marriage, and were stalwart leaders of the church until it closed its doors in 1999. Serving as deacons, Sunday School teachers and attending Mennonite Church conferences provincially and nationally were part of Elmer and Linda's service commitment to their faith.
Linda continued nursing at intervals throughout her life, working in the Carman doctors' office for many years, and then at the Boyne Lodge from 1980-1995. Never one to be idle, besides supporting the farm, Linda was a volunteer chaplain at the Health Sciences Centre for 20 years and was recognized with a Service Excellence award in 2006. Linda volunteered for the Carman Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Thrift Store from its inception until she was 90. She was also a committed support for the Carman Palliative Care Society, providing many hours of companionship and comfort. Elmer and Linda both spent many years as school bus drivers, and the stories of Linda’s driving practices were legendary.
Sadly, much of the spark left Linda's life when Elmer passed away unexpectedly in 2007. Having spent many years ensuring he received the best care for a life-altering chronic disease early in their marriage, adjustment to life without him was perhaps Linda's greatest challenge. The love of her family, and in particular her grandchildren and great-grandchildren returned some of the joy in her life. She moved from the farm to a townhouse in Carman and experienced, for the first time, learning to fill leisure time. Characteristically she continued to immerse herself in the work of the church and community volunteer work, including at the Boyne Lodge until the age of 92.
Linda's greatest joys were caring for others, feeding her family and gaining compliments from Elmer and the community at large for her legendary homemade buns, cinnamon and orange buns. Her baking helped to celebrate countless anniversaries and birthdays and ease many losses. She was loved by all her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews for the birthday and anniversary cards that showed up unfailingly with a loonie inside. We also came to appreciate the many cards, books, flowers and baking Linda delivered to the patients she visited in hospital and anyone in the community that was experiencing hardship.
Linda's final years brought the difficulties of learning to cope with increasing immobility and frailty. Never one to give in without a fight, she had many miraculous recoveries from episodes of failing health until the Lord called her home, to be at peace.
Linda leaves to mourn her children and their spouses, Brian and Shawna Wiebe, Keith and Katherine Stansfield, Bernard and Kimberly Wiebe and Brent and Annie Wiebe; her grandchildren, their partners and children, Kara Wiebe and Travis Cooke, Madden, Hadley and Ellis Cooke; Korry and Jodine Wiebe, Ethan, Marissa and Noel Wiebe; Kirstin and Levi Elford, Paisley, Kaleb and Rylan Elford; Jaden and Stacey Wiebe and Grayson Wiebe; Dylan Stansfield and Jessica Fisher, Laura Stansfield and Ian Dickinson, Kaitlin Stansfield and Emily Keeler; Matthew and Simon Wiebe; David, Katrina and Richard Wiebe. Linda also leaves her sisters Ella Neufeld, Hildegarde (Henry) Peters, Mathilda Cassidy, brother Menno Klassen (Mary Campbell) and sister-in-law Vicki Sharp; brothers-in-law Walter Wiebe, Clifford Friesen, Rollin (Alice) Wiebe and sisters-in-law Ruth (Allan) Wiebe and Rita Friesen and many, many beloved nieces, nephews and their families.
The family acknowledges with gratitude the loving care Linda received from her physicians and nurse practitioners, Marnie Fry and the “In Good Hands’ care team and the many nurses, healthcare aides, activity workers and staff at the Boyne Lodge. She was unfailingly cared for with respect, love and compassion.
Linda's exuberant personality, dedication to helping others and her strong faith in God and the power of prayer will always be remembered with love by her family and all who knew her. She lived a full and rich life that inspired us all and we rejoice that she is now in the company of angels.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Carman Mennonite Church, with internment to follow. Viewing will be Sunday, November 5 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Doyle’s Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, Carman Palliative Care or the Boyne Lodge, Carman.