It is with love, honour, and respect that we announce the passing of Peter Willems, 89, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Peter passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 8, 2020. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 62 years, Betty (nee Siemens); his children Mary Anne (Jon), Ruth (Charles), David (Jan), and Andrew; his grandchildren Peter (Michaela), Rianna (Benni), Matthew (Tara), Gerhard, Charmayne, Jade, Georgia, and Joshua; and great grandchildren John and Ryan.
Obituary written by Peter George Willems
• Born May 22, 1930 to George and Justina (Regier) Willems, the 3rd of 6 children.
• Led to the Lord by my father when I was a preschooler.
• Recommitted my life during the revival services with Rev. Dan Wirsche and Rev. Henry Epp.
• Baptized in the N. Saskatchewan River together with my older brother, John, and sister, Esther, on Sept. 1941 by Rev. H.A. Willems and joined the Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church near Waldheim, Sask.
• Completed grades 1 – 8 in Rose River, a one-room country school near Waldheim, Sask.
• Took grade 9 & 10 by government correspondence.
• Graduated from the four-year course at Bethany Bible School in 1951 in Hepburn, Sask.
That fall, after my graduating from Bethany, my father died suddenly in a harvesting accident at the age of 54. Since I was the oldest son at home at the time, I could not complete my high school education because I had to take care of the family farm. Finally, in 1956, I graduated from Hepburn High School at the age of 26, together with my youngest brother, Rueben. The following year I graduated from Teachers’ College in Saskatoon, Sask.
Mother passed away in 1977. My older brother, John, passed away in 1977 at the age of 51. My older sister, Esther, passed away in 2009 at 83. My younger brother, Dan, passed away in 2013 at 79.
On Aug. 17, 1957 I was married to Rosella Elizabeth Siemens of Borden, Sask.
I took up a teaching position in the same school from which I had graduated a year earlier in Hepburn, Sask. I enjoyed my teaching experiences in 5 different schools with 11 principals. I took Summer School many summers and finally obtained my B.Ed. degree. After teaching 36 years I retired in 1995.
Many summers were spent volunteering at Bible Camps, at Gospel Light as well as at Simonhouse, or helping with church construction at Snow Lake, Leaf Rapids and Lanigan, SK, together with one or the other of our sons. I loved to take our sons with me, one at a time, so they could learn new skills and learn to volunteer.
• 1982 = 25th Wedding Anniversary celebration.
• 2007 = 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration.
• 2017 = 60th Wedding Anniversary celebration.
After retiring from teaching in 1995, I volunteered for 17 years, helping in the kitchen at Union Gospel Mission.
Over the years God has given me an interesting life. Some of the things I have done are farming, construction, working for a trucking company, working in logging camp on Vancouver Island, landscaping in Vancouver, harvesting peat moss on Lulu Island, volunteering on many occasions, and teaching.
God has been very good to me over the years. I am so thankful that God saw fit to cure Betty of her cancer in 2000. He has blessed us in many ways including giving us a family of four living children. One child is waiting for us that we have never met. We already loved him/her.
I have never had to look for work. Betty and I have enjoyed life together for more than 62 years. My prayer is that when I leave this world to go HOME all of our extended family will join me when their time comes. I am looking forward to meeting my Lord and Savior. To Him be glory, honor and praise.
The songs I would love sung at my funeral are How Great Thou Art and There’s A Land That Is Fairer Than Day. God has been SO GREAT!!!
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Peter George Willems Wednesday January 8th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba