Hans Sawatzky was born on December 21, 1937 in his maternal grandmother’s home on a farm east of Didsbury , Alberta, to John J. and Maria (Neufeld) Sawatzky, and passed away on June 14, 2020 at the age of 82. The fifth of six children, Hans had a twin brother Henry, who died shortly after birth.
Hans was also predeceased by his parents, by brother Abram and sister Maria, brothers-in-law Peter Dick and Gerry Harms and sister-in-law Mary Sawatzky, and nephew Mike Sawatzky. He is survived by his sister Helena Harms, of Abbotsford BC and his brother Andrew (Henrietta) Sawatzky of Calgary AB, his nieces Alma Ewert, Debbie Wall Sandra Dick, Carol Heidebrecht, Judy Doerksen, Karen Penner, Wendy Twin, and Kim Sawatzky, and by his nephews David Harms, Rick Sawatzky, and Conrad Sawatzky.
The family moved to Calgary from Carstairs, Alberta in the spring of 1945, as his father had accepted a call to begin a mission to Mennonites living in and around the city. The Scarboro Mennonite Church was soon established. In 1955 at age 17 Hans was baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus as Saviour. In reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit he experienced in the ‘70s, Hans said “I truly praise the Lord for the privilege of having personally experienced Pentecost.”
Hans received most of his education in Calgary, including some time at the University of Calgary teacher training facility. He taught in Alberta for a few years and subsequently worked in passenger train service with CPR. For over ten years he worked at Bethesda Home in Vineland, Ontario. While in that province, he became the piano accompanist for the Eric Goerz Family Singers, ministering in song to congregations of various denominations.
Later he moved to Winnipeg to carry on his theological training at CMBC. He received his Baccalaureate degree and then began a Master’s program. For some years prior to retirement he was employed as a security officer at a Winnipeg nursing home.
A number of people assisted Hans in various ways in his later years. The family would like to thank the management and staff of Edgewood Estates, where Hans lived, and the health professionals who took care of him at various times, including, but not limited to, Karen Jantzen, Kate Geiger, Dr. Tim Matsubara, Carla and the team of home care workers, and the nurses, doctors and staff at Seven Oaks Hospital. We deeply appreciate everything you did for our brother and uncle. We are also very thankful for his community at North Kildonan Mennonite Church.
Read Less
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Hans Sawatzky Monday June 15th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba