Nettie Rose Cornelsen

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NETTIE ROSE CORNELSEN
Jan. 23, 1932-June 4, 2019

Nettie Rose Cornelsen, age 87, of Rosenort, MB, passed away peacefully at the Morris General Hospital on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

She is survived by three brothers, Ed (Kathy), Art (Rose), Jake (Joyce), and brother-in-law John Reimer, and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Nettie Rose was predeceased by her parents, Isaac and Justina, one brother, John (Susan), and two sisters, Evelyn (Pete) Friesen and Anne Reimer.

Nettie Rose was born on Jan. 23, 1932 in Rosenort, MB, which is where she grew up on her parents’ farm. As a young child, her father tutored her on numbers and the alphabet to help her prepare for school. As a keen and studious teenager, she memorized 300 Bible verses to be eligible to register and attend the Canadian Sunday School Mission Camp in Gimli, MB.

At the camp she made her decision to accept Christ and was baptized on July 13, 1947 at the Rosenort EMC Church.

Nettie Rose attended the Steinbach Bible Academy (as it was called at that time) to take her Grade 9 and it was here where her spiritual life deepened. She then completed her Grade 10 year by correspondence, and for Grades 11 and 12 she attended the Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) in Gretna, MB with her younger sister Anne. The years at MCI had a strong influence on her youthful years, which counted a real blessing to her.

The following year, together with her sister Anne, she attended the Provincial Normal School in Winnipeg to enroll in teacher training. Nettie Rose also attended the University of Manitoba, SBI (now SBC) and Wheaton College near Chicago. In addition to the three years at SBI, she studied three years of Pastoral Theology with John Reimer, who was the pastor at the Morris Fellowship Chapel while she was a member there.

Nettie Rose taught school at several locations. Her first teaching position was at a one-room school in Jerome, near St Elizabeth, east of Morris. After that, she taught at the Rosenhoff North School for several years together with Mr Peter J. Remple, where she taught Grades 1 to 3. She also had the opportunity to teach at the Greenbank School where she had been a student before – years earlier, and then later she taught at the present Rosenort School.

After some years of failing health, Nettie Rose continued to expand her knowledge and learning by taking additional courses at Success College and the University of Manitoba. After taking a break from teaching for some years, she then taught at a private school – the Morris Christian Day School – where classes were held in the lower auditorium of the Morris Fellowship Chapel. Nettie Rose considered it a blessing to have the opportunity to teach the Christian Light Course in this Christ-centered environment.

The old adage “once a teacher, always a teacher” certainly applies to Nettie Rose. After her official retirement, she saw an opportunity to continue as a private teacher. For two years she taught a Kindergarten course to three very bright enthusiastic students, Greg and Serena, and later Curtis (great-nephews and a great-niece), which she enjoyed immensely and found very rewarding.

Nettie Rose will always be remembered for her sincere desire to live her life as a faithful Christian. She loved studying the scriptures and was continuously prayerful about everyday concerns, as well as any challenges that she encountered. She shared passionately her love for Christ and how she wanted everyone in her circle to love Him also. Family was very important to her as well as the friendships she had gained over her lifetime. She was a generous soul and had a big heart…and her presence will be greatly missed.

The funeral service was held on Saturday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at Rosenort Fellowship Chapel, Rosenort, MB, with viewing prior to the service.

Burial took place at Rosenort EMC Cemetery, Rosenort, MB.

The family would like to offer thanks and appreciation for the care given to Nettie Rose from the staff of the Heritage Centre as well as the doctors and staff at the Morris Hospital.

Arrangements by
Birchwood Funeral Chapel
1-204-346-1030 or
1-888-454-1030
www.birchwoodfuneralchapel.mb.ca

As published in The Carillon on Jun 12, 2019