DAVID ROBERT WINTER

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DAVID ROBERT WINTER David Robert Winter passed away on September 15, 2013 at home with his wife Anne and his two children by his side. Husband, father, grandfather, teacher, principal, chaplain, gardener and friend. After 83 relatively healthy years and a very short bout of cancer at the start of his 84th year. Dave faced his death as he had lived: in relative simplicity, with much thoughtfulness, prayer and consideration for others. Left to mourn his loss are his wife Anne (Hildebrand); his daughter Josephine (Will) Winterfeld, Eli, Misha, and Isaac; his son Ronald (Sonya) Wu-Winter, Sophia and Rebecca; his daughter-in-law Sandy Winter; his brothers Jack (Marge) and John (Bernice) Winter; his sisters and brothers-in-law Elizabeth (John d.) Calyn, Jerry (Marge) Hildebrand, Helen d. (Allen) Churchill, Esther d. (Neil d.) Krahn, Teeni (Sieg) Wall, Mary (Ray d.) Dyck, Agnes (Neil d.) Pauls, Martha (Jack) Pauls, Phyllis (George) Pauls, Dan d. (Nicolle Brockie) Hildebrand, (Darlene Hildebrand) and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Robert Winter, his parents and his sister Lena. Born on July 24, 1929 on his grandparents farm near Elkhorn, Manitoba to Maria (Froese) and David Winter, Russian Mennonites who had immigrated a couple of years earlier. His family moved to the Altona area in 1937. While many of his peers started to work on their family farms at the age of 14, his parents decided that continued education was his most promising path. After an additional year of high school correspondence and saving for tuition, his parents sent him to MCI in Gretna to complete high school. In 1949, he enrolled in "Normal School" drawn more by a friend's reports of the excitement and social aspects than a true call to teaching. At the time, he had no idea that this would lead to a very successful and rewarding 30 plus year career in education. Dave started teaching in a one room rural southern Manitoba school in Aesop. By 24, with a healthy dose of youthful naivete, he became the principal of the public school in Gretna. In reference to his early years of teaching, he described a later period studying at seminary in Elkhart Indiana and then completing a Masters of English in Minneapolis as a transition from "less audacity to more capacity". During a teaching stint in Winkler, Dave met Anne Hildebrand. Like many of the directions taken in his life, perseverance, analysis, reflection and guidance by the Divine Hand played a role in their decision to marry. They exchanged vows in Winkler on August 20, 1960. Of course, this partnership shaped and influenced the rest of Dave's life including the decision to head to Africa four years later. One of the most formative periods in their young family's life was a four year placement in Zambia with Mennonite Central Committee. They left for Africa in 1964 with two young children in tow - their three year old daughter Josie who was born during their time in Minneapolis, and one year old Robert who was born in Morden. Travelling and living with two young children in Africa in the mid 1960s didn't strike them as much of a challenge so they added a third, Ronald, for their trip home. For nearly 40 years (1962 to 1980), Dave and Anne lived in Morden. The bulk of Dave's teaching career was in Morden Collegiate and for a significant time as it's principal. He fondly remembered his time there and his interactions with the staff and students. In 1976 he returned to the classroom, teaching English Literature in nearby Winkler. He fully expected to remain in this relatively comfortable position until retirement. An unexpected phone call from Rosthern Junior College convinced Dave and Anne to move to Saskatchewan and Dave to again accept the challenges of school administration. Over the eight years they spent in Rosthern, they formed many lasting friendships and Dave felt a great deal of satisfaction in his role as school leader and administrator. Following retirement they pursued another two Mennonite voluntary service placements, first for two years in Tucson, Arizona then four years working with old colony Mennonites in Bolivia. Dave and Anne then returned to Manitoba and settled in Winnipeg. Dave became an avid gardener and took great pride in his park-like back yard on Coventry Road. Church always had a significant role in Dave's life and this continued in their membership in Charleswood Mennonite Church, in a term as the church's chair, and as a hospice chaplain. Dave was a steady and gentle shepherd of his family. His response to his children's decisions and crises was always measured and thoughtful - more of a gentle nudge. His greatest sorrow was in losing his son Robert to cancer in 2008. Dave took great joy in his grandchildren. His last wish, which was realized only two weeks prior to his death, was a long weekend cottage trip to Ontario spent with all of his grandchildren and his immediate family. We are deeply grateful for his life and having had a chance to say goodbye. Dave died as a man at peace with his life. He will be greatly missed. In a nod to his appreciation for literature, he summarized life, his faith in an eternal God, and the mystery of death in the epitaph "Thus endeth the prologue". A service and viewing will be held on Thursday, September 19, 7:00 p.m. at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. The funeral will be Friday, September 20, 11:00 a.m. at Charleswood Mennonite Church, 699 Haney St. (corner of Eldridge and Haney). For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mennonite Central Committee - Zambia Brethren in Christ Schools.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 18, 2013