OBITUARY
Daniel Heinrichs
June 1, 1919 – September 11, 2018
Abram Daniel Heinrichs, 99, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, peacefully passed away on September 11, 2018 at Bethania Personal Care Home.
He is survived by his four children: Albert (Ann), Edward (Diane), Irvin (Elinor), and Marian (Douglas); nine grandchildren, Maxine (John), Ken (Nicole), Sherrill (Perry), David (Jessica), Lisa (Pete), Gerald (Morgan), Jesse, Maggie and Jessica (Ryan) and sixteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife Margaret Cosh, and his former spouse and the mother of his children, Helen Maguire.
He was preceded in death by his second wife Norah (Bradley), his parents, David and Helena (Buhr), and his siblings, Anna, Walter and Elmer, and his grandchild, Christa.
Daniel was born in Altona, Manitoba and in 1941 moved his young family from the farm to Winnipeg where he began work at the post office as a mail carrier. He continued his education, attending Teachers’ College, then earning a B.A., B.Ed. and M.A. from the University of Manitoba. He was a school teacher on Indian reservations in northern Manitoba from 1964 to 1977.
Daniel’s Christian faith was of primary importance to him. He studied the Bible and read a wide spectrum of books by both Christian and non-Christian authors. He had clearly defined opinions and perspectives which he communicated in multiple formats, including letters to editors, papers in journals and with his own book, My Faith & Genesis.
Daniel travelled extensively – across Canada and the U.S., Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He spent two years living in Paris. He particularly enjoyed hiking in the Rocky Mountains with family.
Daniel’s hobbies also showed his diverse interests. He loved challenging himself on jigsaw puzzles and small Chinese puzzle games. He owned a rock tumbler and polished rocks to make jewelry and attractive hanging objects. He taught himself to work on a lathe and made small wooden bowls and other objects that he give away to family and friends. He also loved playing gospel songs and hymns on an accordion and later in life on his electric keyboard.
In 1976, Daniel married Norah with whom he lived initially in Bobcaygeon, Ontario and then in Winnipeg. Norah enjoyed travelling as much as Daniel and they had (as he would say) an adventurous life until Norah became ill with Alzheimer’s Disease. Daniel turned his attention to learning how to be a caregiver to Norah and when she died in 1993, he published a book of his experiences with Norah, hoping he could help others who were caregiving their loved ones who had dementia. Approximately fifteen thousand copies of Caring For Norah have been distributed.
Daniel started volunteer work after retirement and continued well into his 80’s. He helped to manage the library in his local elementary school. He gave talks to professionals in the medical and nursing fields and to others who wanted to understand Alzheimer’s Disease from the perspective of the caregiver. Daniel also provided support and relief for individual families who had a loved one with dementia.
Daniel leaves a legacy of Christian faith, a love of music, and a passion for learning through travelling.
In Daniel’s own words from his autobiography, Adventures of a Mennonite: From the Dry Thirties out into the World, “My hope is that you will benefit from my mistakes, criticize me where you so wish, and follow in my footsteps where you find something admirable. Always remember to share your life with God”.
The funeral service will be held at the Thomson « In the Park » Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard, Winnipeg, on September 19 at 2:00 p.m. with viewing one hour prior to the service.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Daniel Heinrichs 2018..
Décès pour la Ville: winnipeg, Province: Manitoba
