With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Werner Dick into the presence of the God he loved with all his heart, on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, at the age of 87 years.
Werner genuinely enjoyed people. He had an easy warmth about him and could strike up aconversation with anyone, always genuinely interested in the people he met. Whether reconnecting with an old friend or meeting someone for the first time, he always seemed to strike up immediate conversation. He was known for his steady optimism, quiet but witty humour, and his familiar “schputting”. Family was always important to him, and he took great pride in being a Husband, a Dad, and an Opa.
Werner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up on a farm in the Culross area of Manitoba. There was no electricity, water was hauled and melted from snow in the winter, and trips to school meant bundling up under blankets in a horse-drawn sleigh by his father. German was the language spoken at home, and Werner entered school unable to speak English, repeating Grade 1 as he learned the language. He went through the rest of his schooling alongside his sister Karin, a shared experience that strengthened their lifelong bond. Life in Culross required hard work, but the home was rich with memories of love and fun, including childhood “close shaves,” a phrase Werner loved to use. One early winter, when the ice was still far too thin for walking, his dad asked if Werner had been out on it,
although Werner claimed innocence. A quick trip back to the scene of the crime revealed a perfectly matched shoe print and resulted in the only remembered spanking of his childhood. Another fabled story that became legend from Werner’s childhood was when he saw Santa and Rudolph fly over the Culross grain silo. This story was so real to him and led to future traditions with family, keeping the mystery of Christmas alive in future generations.
From a young age, faith was central to Werner’s identity and remained a steady foundation throughout his life. He first served at Carman Gospel Light Church in many capacities, including as associate pastor, board chair, and a member of the constitution committee. During church services, he could often be found quietly drawing tractors and horses for his boys to keep them engaged. Werner did not serve for recognition or accolades - he understood that leadership is often thankless - but out of a genuine desire to minister and set an example for his family, leading others in Christ. He also spent more than twenty years as a leader in the Christian Service Brigades, where he was deeply committed to mentoring and discipling young men. In recent years, Werner continued to serve at Grace Bible Church by welcoming both familiar and new faces as an usher, picking up food for the Winnipeg Harvest, and planting and caring for the church’s gardens.
After growing up in Culross, Werner earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (specializing in Horticulture) from University of Manitoba, followed by a Theology Degree at Mennonite Brethren Bible College. He went on to get a teaching certificate at the University of Manitoba. Following his education, he began teaching Highschool at the Elm Creek School. Werner frequently spoke of teaching his younger brother, John, and liked to joke about his habit of procrastinating, all while proudly bragging of John’s later success as a scientist.
Werner’s love story with Hilda was marked by patience, devotion, and love. When they met, Hilda felt called into ministry, while Werner hoped for marriage. He waited for her, all while supporting her work in Missions, and continued pursuing her when she returned from ministry after four years with the Bible Christian Union in Germany. His steady presence and commitment to her remained unchanged. They were married in 1969, beginning a partnership grounded in faith. Their wedding day reflected Werner’s playful sense of humour, as friends and relatives carried out pranks that filled their mobile home with rice - even in cupboards and ventilation ducts - and required Hilda to disguise herself just to leave for their honeymoon. The getaway car was hidden, though not without being followed, and the antics became part of a family story often retold with fond laughter. Werner later took over Hilda’s homestead, where he and Hilda raised their three sons.
Farming was both his livelihood and his passion, and while Hilda was not an active “farmerette” herself, she willingly followed and supported him in that life. He made a point of including his boys in farm work, often taking them with him on the tractor while he worked the fields. He treated the farm not just as a business, but as a place where family life happened. Supper time meant stopping the combine and gathering as a family to eat on a picnic blanket out on the fields. Even with fields ready for harvest and perfect weather, Sundays were reserved for church, family and rest. In the early years, Werner farmed alongside his father, and took great pride in doing things properly, achieving strong yields and earning recognition for having some of the best crops despite not always having the most advanced equipment. Scott fondly remembered being instructed to disc pea vines into the field at harvest, with explicit instructions not to back up. After completely plugging the disker, Scott ignored that advice and broke the hitch while backing up. When he confessed, Werner responded without anger, a testimony to his gentle and loving character. He was also known as a “man of fire,” happily burning brush with a propane torch and finding joy in lighting things on fire as part of farm life.
Family has always been the center of Werner’s life. In recent years, he worked closely with Kimberly to create his Life Stories book. When asked what advice he would give for raising children, his answer was simple and practical - love them, spend time with them, lead them by example, and teach them to value education and to choose friends wisely. In his final days, as family gathered and shared memories, these same values came up again and again. Werner lived what he believed, quietly and consistently.
Werner enjoyed staying active and engaged. For more than 25 years, Werner and Hilda often spent part of their winters in Mexico with Harry and Annemarie and other family, a tradition that became a cherished highlight of the season. He loved being in the water (he was always the first in and the last out), followed the stock market closely, and for many years kept a small television tuned to the stock channel at his Sanford home. Gardening was another longtime interest, and he was never short on opinions and expertise about trees. Even in retirement, Werner continued working for Scott’s company, wanting to stay involved in soil sampling and working with the land. At 78, it mattered to him to still be doing that work. After moving to Saint Adolphe, he continued to stay active through running
and walking, and took pride in the community trail he helped maintain.
To his grandchildren, Werner was the best Opa - present, intentional, and loving. He made a point of showing up when it mattered. Family traditions were important to him, including “Opa-Claus” at Christmas, when he would dress as Santa Claus and hand out gifts, often with Oma perched on his lap for a quick kiss, beard and all.
Werner was predeceased by his parents, Rudy and Olly Dick; his siblings Rudy Dick and Betty Janzen; and his brother-in-law Dave Boese. He is survived by his siblings Karin Boese, Annemarie (Harry) Klassen, and John (Lorna) Dick; as well as his in-law siblings Kathy (Steve) Swanson and Rick (Debbie) Janzen.
Werner will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of 56 years, Hilda, and their children: Ryan (Kimberly) Enns - Ashley (Jacob) Pottebaum, Alyssa (Ben) McIntosh, and Brad; Scott (Robin) Dick - Brook-Lynn, Dawson, and Easton; and Steve (Amy) Krahn - Jordan and Jenna; as well as his great-grandchildren Taytum, Paisley, and Collins (Alyssa’s daughters), and Jack (Ashley’s son).
The family is deeply grateful to all who provided compassionate care at Saint Boniface Hospital for Dad/Opa in the days following his diagnosis.
A service will be held on Saturday, January 10th, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Bible Church of Winnipeg, 366 Oakwood Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The service can be viewed through a livestream following to link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/573359902?pwd=K3N6NEpPemh6aDZ2dEpJUU5HRXo4UT09
(Meeting ID: 573 359 902, password: 213229).
If friends so desire, donations may be made in Werner’s memory to MCC at MCC.org.
Werner genuinely enjoyed people. He had an easy warmth about him and could strike up aconversation with anyone, always genuinely interested in the people he met. Whether reconnecting with an old friend or meeting someone for the first time, he always seemed to strike up immediate conversation. He was known for his steady optimism, quiet but witty humour, and his familiar “schputting”. Family was always important to him, and he took great pride in being a Husband, a Dad, and an Opa.
Werner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up on a farm in the Culross area of Manitoba. There was no electricity, water was hauled and melted from snow in the winter, and trips to school meant bundling up under blankets in a horse-drawn sleigh by his father. German was the language spoken at home, and Werner entered school unable to speak English, repeating Grade 1 as he learned the language. He went through the rest of his schooling alongside his sister Karin, a shared experience that strengthened their lifelong bond. Life in Culross required hard work, but the home was rich with memories of love and fun, including childhood “close shaves,” a phrase Werner loved to use. One early winter, when the ice was still far too thin for walking, his dad asked if Werner had been out on it,
although Werner claimed innocence. A quick trip back to the scene of the crime revealed a perfectly matched shoe print and resulted in the only remembered spanking of his childhood. Another fabled story that became legend from Werner’s childhood was when he saw Santa and Rudolph fly over the Culross grain silo. This story was so real to him and led to future traditions with family, keeping the mystery of Christmas alive in future generations.
From a young age, faith was central to Werner’s identity and remained a steady foundation throughout his life. He first served at Carman Gospel Light Church in many capacities, including as associate pastor, board chair, and a member of the constitution committee. During church services, he could often be found quietly drawing tractors and horses for his boys to keep them engaged. Werner did not serve for recognition or accolades - he understood that leadership is often thankless - but out of a genuine desire to minister and set an example for his family, leading others in Christ. He also spent more than twenty years as a leader in the Christian Service Brigades, where he was deeply committed to mentoring and discipling young men. In recent years, Werner continued to serve at Grace Bible Church by welcoming both familiar and new faces as an usher, picking up food for the Winnipeg Harvest, and planting and caring for the church’s gardens.
After growing up in Culross, Werner earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (specializing in Horticulture) from University of Manitoba, followed by a Theology Degree at Mennonite Brethren Bible College. He went on to get a teaching certificate at the University of Manitoba. Following his education, he began teaching Highschool at the Elm Creek School. Werner frequently spoke of teaching his younger brother, John, and liked to joke about his habit of procrastinating, all while proudly bragging of John’s later success as a scientist.
Werner’s love story with Hilda was marked by patience, devotion, and love. When they met, Hilda felt called into ministry, while Werner hoped for marriage. He waited for her, all while supporting her work in Missions, and continued pursuing her when she returned from ministry after four years with the Bible Christian Union in Germany. His steady presence and commitment to her remained unchanged. They were married in 1969, beginning a partnership grounded in faith. Their wedding day reflected Werner’s playful sense of humour, as friends and relatives carried out pranks that filled their mobile home with rice - even in cupboards and ventilation ducts - and required Hilda to disguise herself just to leave for their honeymoon. The getaway car was hidden, though not without being followed, and the antics became part of a family story often retold with fond laughter. Werner later took over Hilda’s homestead, where he and Hilda raised their three sons.
Farming was both his livelihood and his passion, and while Hilda was not an active “farmerette” herself, she willingly followed and supported him in that life. He made a point of including his boys in farm work, often taking them with him on the tractor while he worked the fields. He treated the farm not just as a business, but as a place where family life happened. Supper time meant stopping the combine and gathering as a family to eat on a picnic blanket out on the fields. Even with fields ready for harvest and perfect weather, Sundays were reserved for church, family and rest. In the early years, Werner farmed alongside his father, and took great pride in doing things properly, achieving strong yields and earning recognition for having some of the best crops despite not always having the most advanced equipment. Scott fondly remembered being instructed to disc pea vines into the field at harvest, with explicit instructions not to back up. After completely plugging the disker, Scott ignored that advice and broke the hitch while backing up. When he confessed, Werner responded without anger, a testimony to his gentle and loving character. He was also known as a “man of fire,” happily burning brush with a propane torch and finding joy in lighting things on fire as part of farm life.
Family has always been the center of Werner’s life. In recent years, he worked closely with Kimberly to create his Life Stories book. When asked what advice he would give for raising children, his answer was simple and practical - love them, spend time with them, lead them by example, and teach them to value education and to choose friends wisely. In his final days, as family gathered and shared memories, these same values came up again and again. Werner lived what he believed, quietly and consistently.
Werner enjoyed staying active and engaged. For more than 25 years, Werner and Hilda often spent part of their winters in Mexico with Harry and Annemarie and other family, a tradition that became a cherished highlight of the season. He loved being in the water (he was always the first in and the last out), followed the stock market closely, and for many years kept a small television tuned to the stock channel at his Sanford home. Gardening was another longtime interest, and he was never short on opinions and expertise about trees. Even in retirement, Werner continued working for Scott’s company, wanting to stay involved in soil sampling and working with the land. At 78, it mattered to him to still be doing that work. After moving to Saint Adolphe, he continued to stay active through running
and walking, and took pride in the community trail he helped maintain.
To his grandchildren, Werner was the best Opa - present, intentional, and loving. He made a point of showing up when it mattered. Family traditions were important to him, including “Opa-Claus” at Christmas, when he would dress as Santa Claus and hand out gifts, often with Oma perched on his lap for a quick kiss, beard and all.
Werner was predeceased by his parents, Rudy and Olly Dick; his siblings Rudy Dick and Betty Janzen; and his brother-in-law Dave Boese. He is survived by his siblings Karin Boese, Annemarie (Harry) Klassen, and John (Lorna) Dick; as well as his in-law siblings Kathy (Steve) Swanson and Rick (Debbie) Janzen.
Werner will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of 56 years, Hilda, and their children: Ryan (Kimberly) Enns - Ashley (Jacob) Pottebaum, Alyssa (Ben) McIntosh, and Brad; Scott (Robin) Dick - Brook-Lynn, Dawson, and Easton; and Steve (Amy) Krahn - Jordan and Jenna; as well as his great-grandchildren Taytum, Paisley, and Collins (Alyssa’s daughters), and Jack (Ashley’s son).
The family is deeply grateful to all who provided compassionate care at Saint Boniface Hospital for Dad/Opa in the days following his diagnosis.
A service will be held on Saturday, January 10th, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Bible Church of Winnipeg, 366 Oakwood Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The service can be viewed through a livestream following to link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/573359902?pwd=K3N6NEpPemh6aDZ2dEpJUU5HRXo4UT09
(Meeting ID: 573 359 902, password: 213229).
If friends so desire, donations may be made in Werner’s memory to MCC at MCC.org.