IRMA GUENTHER

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

IRMA GUENTHER June 25, 1921 - June 4, 2017 Irma Guenther was born on June 25, 1921 in Ohrloff/Molotschna Colony in South Russia to John Peter and Maria (Klassen) Dick. As a three year old, Irma, along with her parents, her little brother Edgar, her grandparents and other relatives, emigrated from Russia to Canada. After spending the first year with a Mennonite family in Markham, Ontario, the family moved west to a farm in Culross, Manitoba. Irma loved to tell stories of her growing up years. She remembered wonderful times of playing with cousins and being surrounded by a busy houseful of grandparents and siblings. We are grateful that she wrote so many of these memories down! After attending school in Culross, Gretna, and Elm Creek, at age 19 Irma entered the Grace Hospital School of Nursing in Winnipeg and earned her RN degree. It was there that she met the love of her life, Henry Guenther, and they were married on September 22, 1945. They settled in Winnipeg and were delighted to begin a family. During the next decades Irma gave herself to caring for a full house of children that she and Henry were blessed with. Even through this season of life, with Henry very busy as a family practice doctor and a growing family of little ones at home, Irma and Henry stayed deeply in love and made time for each other. They were also committed to showing their love for God by caring for others. Irma loved leading a neighbourhood women's Bible study and was always busy showing special kindness to neighbours. Many a lonely person was fed at the supper table, and the children could be seen delivering freshly baked bread and garden produce down the block with the wagon. Irma also took great delight in expressing her creative spirit by re-using materials and sewing fancy little coats that she would give away. Inside these creations you could find these embroidered words: "Stitches with Jesus". There were also heartaches during these years. Henry's diagnosis of multiple sclerosis necessitated a career change that involved going back to school in order to practice psychiatry. Those were times of learning to trust God with all the unknowns. When Henry accepted a position as psychiatrist with Eden Mental Health Centre in Winkler, MB, the family moved to Morden in 1975. Very shortly after the move, a house fire destroyed many of their belongings but spared all their lives. This became an occasion to receive much help from the town and strangers became friends. In addition to caring for her family, Irma also became involved again in a home Bible study group, and started volunteering at the local thrift store where she formed friendships that lasted through the next decades. After Henry's health started to fade and most of the children had left home, they moved to a smaller home in Morden. Irma delighted in the opportunity to transform what started off as a lawn into a yard full of trees and flowers. How she loved to be out in the garden, to do her daily writing in her many journals, to faithfully write letters, and to spend time reading and re-reading her Bible. And then she loved to curl up on her settee in the sun, under a blanket, and read yet another book before having a nap. After Henry died in 1994, Irma had more adjustments to make and found new routines with friends and family. She stayed in her beloved little house until 2014 when she was no longer able to live safely on her own. She moved to Homestead South for the last few years of her life and was so grateful for the good and helpful staff there. Due to declining health, Irma spent the last five months in Boundary Trails Hospital. She died peacefully in her sleep on Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2017. Irma was predeceased by her husband Henry in 1994, daughter Heather in 1992, son-in-law Jeff Urschatz in 2011, daughter Heidi in 2013, and, most recently, her son Kurt in 2017. She was also predeceased by her brothers Helmuth, Edgar and Harry, and is survived by her sister Karen Mascioli. She leaves to mourn her large family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Friends and family are invited to join together for a time of singing and sharing stories and thanking God for Irma's life. A celebration of her life will take place on Friday, June 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Westside Community Church, 831 Thornhill Street, Morden, MB R6M 1J8. In keeping with Irma's love for walking downtown, sitting on benches together with friends and watching people, playing her harmonica and making even more new friends, the family would welcome donations for a memorial bench to encourage others to also build community. Cheques should be made payable to "The City of Morden" and identified as "Irma Guenther Memorial" and mailed to Clare Agnew c/o Access Event Centre, 111 Gilmour St., Morden, Manitoba R6M 1N9.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 10, 2017