Ursula Poetker (nee Penner) was born on December 7, 1933 to Heinrich and Maria Penner in Margenau in the Molotschna Colony of South Russia,
which is part of Ukraine today.
Our mother was the fourth daughter in a family of five girls. In 1941, as Germany was invading Communist Russia things changed dramatically for the family. Because of their German descent the Russian army came and took all the men from their village, including mom’s father and sent them to a labour camp in Siberia. She never saw him again. The family faced many hardships as the war continued. In September of 1943 they were forced to leave Russia and their Trek to Freedom began.
Mom, her sisters and their mother traveled by horse and wagon along with all their neighbors and people from surrounding villages. The route they were taking led them into Poland where they lived in a refugee camp. The war ended in 1945, but they remained captives to Polish authorities, working without pay for a landlord.
With the help of MCC, (Mennonite Central Committee) they were finally released and eventually arrived by train to West Germany. From there they traveled to Rotterdam, Holland where they boarded a ship called the Volendam which took them to Canada, where they landed in Quebec City. They travelled by train to Winnipeg and then to Arnaud, where they were reunited with their relatives and established their home. It was 1948. Mom has said numerous times that it was a long trip with many challenges, but God’s hand was evident throughout their journey.
At the age of 14 she attended school in Arnaud for 2 years before moving to Winnipeg. As a 16 year old, she went to work at Paulin Chambers packing cookies in the factory.
She came back to Arnaud on weekends and attended church and choir practice. Here is where she met Johnny, her future husband. She was baptized on June 15,1952 in the Arnaud Mennonite Church. On July 21,1956 she married John Poetker at the Arnaud Mennonite church.
Dad was a farmer and mechanic. Mom was a wonderful mother and homemaker. Over the years she was active in church, teaching the youngest Sunday School class, involved in Youth, Bible studies, prayer and women’s groups. She also taught cooking in the 4H program. She loved gardening and her flower garden filled her with so much joy. She was always willing to share what she had with friends and relatives. Her attitude was, “Always give away your best!” She spent countless hours in fall
canning and stocking her pantry with food for the winter. Mom had a servant attitude which was evident in everything she did. Her heart was full of God’s love for her family and everyone around her. Over the years they fostered 15 children often coming by 2’s or 3’s. One of the babies they fostered was Robert who they would adopt as their own child in 1982. Mom’s life was focused on Jesus. Everyone around her knew that she loved Jesus and had a very close relationship with Him. We would
sometimes say she must have a direct connection to God. She spent countless hours in prayer for her family, her friends, her community and anyone who would request her prayers. TV was never a distraction for her. Her priority was reading her Bible and completing study materials to deepen her faith.
She would say she’d make time for hobbies when she was old. God’s work had to come first. She was a dedicated servant and that seems to be what became her lifelong hobby.
Mom and Dad lived together in Arnaud until 1998 when they retired to Winkler where they lived on Prairie View Dr. They spent their retirement years together, enjoying coffee on the deck, watching the sunset, reading, studying the scriptures and praying together. Dad passed away in 2010. Mom faithfully took care of him daily during his final years at the hospital and at Salem Home.
After dad passed, mom became more involved with a number of different ladies’ groups who would regularly gather at her home. They would spend many hours studying the bible and praying together. She volunteered at the MCC thrift store in Winkler for a number of years.
She treasured the times when her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would come over and visit. Family time was very precious to her. She would often sit quietly and just gratefully observe the joyful activity around her. During these last number of months when her health was deteriorating her face would always light up with a smile when one of her family would walk into the room. Her desire was to remain in the house as long as possible. She was able to pass away peacefully in her home with her family present just as she had wished. We are grateful for the loving and compassionate care that Nelson gave her. Thank you to the home care
attendants who also made it possible for mom to remain in her home. As we were going through some of her things we found a journal that she had kept. It was filled with daily prayers. Most of them were for her family. She prayed that all of us would have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She then went one step further. She also prayed that all her descendants up till the time of Christ’s return would come to know Jesus as well. God’s promise that says, He will bless the descendants of those who are faithful, is so true. We have all been truly blessed because of the prayers and the Godly example of this faithful woman.
Mom is survived by her children, Ray (and Linda), Elvina (and Eric) Peters, Nelson, Robert and 6 grandchildren: Nikki and Jay O’Conner, Amanda and Wayne Koop, Jared and Rachel Poetker, Jason and Lisa Peters, Kristen and Steve Buse, Mitch and Kristina Peters, as well as 13 great grandchildren, Alex, Carrie & Sabrina O’Connor, Carter, Aaron & Levi Koop, Molly Poetker, Zachary, Callie & Lucas Peters, Jayden & Zoe Buse, and Nathan Peters. She was predeceased by her parents, Heinrich & Maria Penner, 1 sister Katie Sudermann, 4 brothers-in-law, John Epp, Jacob Sudermann, Jacob Bergen, and Kurt Lebtag. She is survived by 3 sisters, Helen Epp, Mary Lebtag, and Anne (and Peter) Kroeker.
which is part of Ukraine today.
Our mother was the fourth daughter in a family of five girls. In 1941, as Germany was invading Communist Russia things changed dramatically for the family. Because of their German descent the Russian army came and took all the men from their village, including mom’s father and sent them to a labour camp in Siberia. She never saw him again. The family faced many hardships as the war continued. In September of 1943 they were forced to leave Russia and their Trek to Freedom began.
Mom, her sisters and their mother traveled by horse and wagon along with all their neighbors and people from surrounding villages. The route they were taking led them into Poland where they lived in a refugee camp. The war ended in 1945, but they remained captives to Polish authorities, working without pay for a landlord.
With the help of MCC, (Mennonite Central Committee) they were finally released and eventually arrived by train to West Germany. From there they traveled to Rotterdam, Holland where they boarded a ship called the Volendam which took them to Canada, where they landed in Quebec City. They travelled by train to Winnipeg and then to Arnaud, where they were reunited with their relatives and established their home. It was 1948. Mom has said numerous times that it was a long trip with many challenges, but God’s hand was evident throughout their journey.
At the age of 14 she attended school in Arnaud for 2 years before moving to Winnipeg. As a 16 year old, she went to work at Paulin Chambers packing cookies in the factory.
She came back to Arnaud on weekends and attended church and choir practice. Here is where she met Johnny, her future husband. She was baptized on June 15,1952 in the Arnaud Mennonite Church. On July 21,1956 she married John Poetker at the Arnaud Mennonite church.
Dad was a farmer and mechanic. Mom was a wonderful mother and homemaker. Over the years she was active in church, teaching the youngest Sunday School class, involved in Youth, Bible studies, prayer and women’s groups. She also taught cooking in the 4H program. She loved gardening and her flower garden filled her with so much joy. She was always willing to share what she had with friends and relatives. Her attitude was, “Always give away your best!” She spent countless hours in fall
canning and stocking her pantry with food for the winter. Mom had a servant attitude which was evident in everything she did. Her heart was full of God’s love for her family and everyone around her. Over the years they fostered 15 children often coming by 2’s or 3’s. One of the babies they fostered was Robert who they would adopt as their own child in 1982. Mom’s life was focused on Jesus. Everyone around her knew that she loved Jesus and had a very close relationship with Him. We would
sometimes say she must have a direct connection to God. She spent countless hours in prayer for her family, her friends, her community and anyone who would request her prayers. TV was never a distraction for her. Her priority was reading her Bible and completing study materials to deepen her faith.
She would say she’d make time for hobbies when she was old. God’s work had to come first. She was a dedicated servant and that seems to be what became her lifelong hobby.
Mom and Dad lived together in Arnaud until 1998 when they retired to Winkler where they lived on Prairie View Dr. They spent their retirement years together, enjoying coffee on the deck, watching the sunset, reading, studying the scriptures and praying together. Dad passed away in 2010. Mom faithfully took care of him daily during his final years at the hospital and at Salem Home.
After dad passed, mom became more involved with a number of different ladies’ groups who would regularly gather at her home. They would spend many hours studying the bible and praying together. She volunteered at the MCC thrift store in Winkler for a number of years.
She treasured the times when her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would come over and visit. Family time was very precious to her. She would often sit quietly and just gratefully observe the joyful activity around her. During these last number of months when her health was deteriorating her face would always light up with a smile when one of her family would walk into the room. Her desire was to remain in the house as long as possible. She was able to pass away peacefully in her home with her family present just as she had wished. We are grateful for the loving and compassionate care that Nelson gave her. Thank you to the home care
attendants who also made it possible for mom to remain in her home. As we were going through some of her things we found a journal that she had kept. It was filled with daily prayers. Most of them were for her family. She prayed that all of us would have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She then went one step further. She also prayed that all her descendants up till the time of Christ’s return would come to know Jesus as well. God’s promise that says, He will bless the descendants of those who are faithful, is so true. We have all been truly blessed because of the prayers and the Godly example of this faithful woman.
Mom is survived by her children, Ray (and Linda), Elvina (and Eric) Peters, Nelson, Robert and 6 grandchildren: Nikki and Jay O’Conner, Amanda and Wayne Koop, Jared and Rachel Poetker, Jason and Lisa Peters, Kristen and Steve Buse, Mitch and Kristina Peters, as well as 13 great grandchildren, Alex, Carrie & Sabrina O’Connor, Carter, Aaron & Levi Koop, Molly Poetker, Zachary, Callie & Lucas Peters, Jayden & Zoe Buse, and Nathan Peters. She was predeceased by her parents, Heinrich & Maria Penner, 1 sister Katie Sudermann, 4 brothers-in-law, John Epp, Jacob Sudermann, Jacob Bergen, and Kurt Lebtag. She is survived by 3 sisters, Helen Epp, Mary Lebtag, and Anne (and Peter) Kroeker.