SCHELLENBERG, Erika Elsie
July 30, 1936 — July 21, 2021
Erika Elsie Schellenberg went to be with the Lord on July 21, 2021, after a long battle with Parkinson’s. Born in Mervin, Saskatchewan on July 30, 1936, her family moved to a dairy farm in Arnold, BC when she was 2 years old. After high school at MEI in Abbotsford, she spent 1 year at Columbia Bible Institute, before she attended Normal School and became a teacher.
Erika’s first teaching job was in Oyama, BC. Erika began attending Kelowna MB Church, where she met her future husband, Arnold Schellenberg. They were married in Arnold MB Church on August 18, 1957. Children soon followed and Erika gave up her teaching career.
Arnie and Erika soon moved from Kelowna to Westbank, where they built a home on the Okanagan Lake. They lived in their lakeside home for 45 years, hosting many family members, friends, and church groups.
Erika raised 3 children, and was the bookkeeper for Arnika Management, their contracting business. Although she did not really see herself as a camper or hiker, there were many happy family times spent in the outdoors.
Erika was very musical. She sang in the church choir and Voice of Praise, a women’s musical group that performed around the province. She played piano and organ for church for many years. She was involved in teaching and leading at Christian Women’s Club and at Take-A-Break at Willow Park Church. She loved to travel and was always looking forward to the next trip. In later years she took up golf.
Erika was an introvert and relied on her quiet times to fuel her many activities. She loved to read and journal. She was also creative – writing music (some of which Voice of Praise performed) and poetry, sewing, crocheting, and more. She loved to tease and laugh.
She will be sorely missed by her husband of 63 years Arnold Schellenberg; children Debora Peters (James) and Brian (Cindy); grandchildren Matt (Faith), Steve (Amanda), Tamara Peters, Cari (Brendan Haug), Mike (Melissa), Loralee Smith (Dawsy), Ashley Ayers (Jeff), Eric (Alanna), and Jenn Peters; great-grandchildren Leila, Hannah, Isaiah, Nathan, Cadianna Poirier, Ruby Ayers, Alice Ayers, Clara, Emma, Lilyanna Haug, and Kelsey; as well as by her siblings John Balzer (Doreen), Edith Neufeldt (Jerry), Dorothy Giesbrecht (Wes), Ed Balzer (Ev), Ruth Ratzlaff (Dave), and Gord Balzer (Karen).
Sadly, Erika was predeceased by her son Robert in 2007 and also by her parents, John & Marie (née Poetker) Balzer, and her sister Betty Neumann.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 13, 2021, at 11:00 am at Willow Park Church, 439 Hwy 33, Kelowna, BC.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de SCHELLENBERG Erika Elsie July 30 1936 — July 21 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique