Irmgard Regehr, age 90 passed away on April 14, 2019 after a lengthy and progressive illness. She leaves to mourn her faithful and loving husband, Albert, and five children: Karin, Elsie, Randy, Lorraine (Randy Kroeker.), Timothy (Linda), nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. We will miss her dearly.
Irmgard was born on March 5, 1929 in Crimea. At the age of one year she fled Russia with her parents John and Elizabeth Dyck in circumstances they would later describe as miraculous. Their trek took them to Germany on December 2, 1929 enroute to Canada on February 24, 1930 with little more than hopes and dreams for religious freedom and prosperity. After her parents’ two years of work in Winkler, they settled down in North Kildonan where Irmgard and her family would come to spend their entire lives—eventually in financial security, and steadfast in their unwavering faith in God.
As the eldest, Irmgard was called upon to look after her three brothers, and later her little sister, while her parents eked out a living. As the family’s wood manufacturing business grew, Irmgard was achieving excellent grades at Lord Kitchener School, and to her parent’s pride and joy, began to take piano lessons for 25 cents per week. This unanticipated luxury had come their way earlier when one of John’s vegetable cart customers could not afford to pay him for the produce he was delivering, so he accepted her offer of a piano instead and took it home by horse and cart. Little did they know that one day she would fulfil the requirements for an ARCT—a piano performance degree of the Royal Conservatory of Music—an achievement that was hard-won in those days. She used her musical talents in generous service to the North Kildonan and McIvor MB churches as their pianist and organist.
Irmgard would meet her future husband, Albert, at MBCI. Their marriage in 1950 started their sixty-nine-year sojourn together including the joys of raising a family, but also the profound despair following their son Randy’s traumatic birth. With the help of others and eventually the excellent and tender care provided by St. Amant Centre for Randy, Irmgard and Albert could dare to live with a renewed hope for normalcy, although this tragedy survives them still.
Irmgard and Albert began pursuing travel adventures in the context of a reawakened fervour to be of service to others on a global scale. Irmgard wouldn’t miss a beat, even as her years increased. She was eager to visit the Philippines, the country of origin for many of her Bible Study friends. They visited this country twice, the second time staying for three months to support the construction of a school and playground in a remote community. Haiti won their hearts as they helped to love and feed orphans. In Guatemala they provided funds for a pastor and his family to become self-sustaining by raising goats and selling the milk. They supported the building of a gathering place for the community at a high altitude. On a return visit, Irmy insisted that she get up that steep cliff to see the project completed. And she did so by allowing the locals to carry her.
Over the years, and back at home, Albert and Irmgard hosted countless people for meals, many travelling from distant places and sometimes staying for lengthy periods of time. Hospitality was one of her many gifts.
Of course, Irmgard was passionate about her family and loved to cook, bake, and sew for them, and together with Albert, take care of the grandchildren when needed!
Eventually it was Irmgard’s turn to be cared for. Her family owes a debt of gratitude to the staff at Donwood Manor Personal Care Home who lovingly cared for her over the last eighteen months, you were like family. And a special thanks is reserved for Irmy’s companion and friend, Lois Tetrault who faithfully and tenderly engaged Irmy during painfully difficult times.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on April 18, 2019 at McIvor Church at 200 McIvor Street.
In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to The Gideons International in Canada.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Irmgard Regehr Dyck Sunday April 14th 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba