Annie Brandt

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ANNA REIMER BARKMAN BRANDT
September 5, 1936 – August 10, 2016

God answered Mom’s prayer at 12:35 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, to be released from her suffering and enter her eternal home. The last six months or so had been filled with increasing pain. She was hospitalized and diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer two months before her home-going. She was just a few weeks short of her 80th birthday.

Our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, “Annie” Anna Reimer Barkman Brandt, was born on September 5, 1936, to Peter JR and Gertrude Barkman in Hanover, near Steinbach, Manitoba. She was pre-deceased by her husband, our Dad, Abe P. Brandt, her granddaughter Katelyn Friesen, her father Peter JR Barkman, her mother Gertrude, her step-mother Anna, her sisters: Mary, Margaret, and Minna, and brothers Peter and Albert, many brothers- and sisters-in-law and two nephews.

Mom is survived by her children: son Larry (Irene), and their children: Andre, Rejean, Jere with Ben and Maelle, and Jeanne; daughter Laureen (Roland Friesen) and their children: Keith (Stacey) with Rowan, Bria, Emery, and Holland; Alyssa (Allan Peters) with Logan; Michelle (Phil Plett) with Blaine; and Stacey (Darren Reimer) with Jase and Seth; son Stanley (Luella) and their children: Sheri (Tim Hiebert) with Keziah and Emma Lee; Krista (Sam Kalteck) with Hannah; Janette, Aimmee, and Kayley; son Delbert (LuWanna) and their children: Joel (Gina) with Emmitt; Steve, Brianne, and Lindsey; son Gerald (Jacqueline) with their children: Jonas, Celine, and Felix; daughter Anita (Roger Friesen) with their children: Tyrone (Kelley), Bethany, and Nathan; daughter Elaine (Victor Neufeld); daughter Julia; daughter Sandra (Mark Grafe) and their children Josiah, Ally, Tori, and Heather; son Robert (Crystal) and their children: Aaron, Sam, and Levi; and daughter Theresa; her sisters Helen (John Wiebe), Kathy (Pete Reimer), and Trudie (John Kehler); her brothers Frank (Helen) and Abe (Mary); her brother-in-law Jake Reimer (Mary); her sister-in-law Teena Barkman (Albert); brother-in-law Dave Brandt (Mary) and sister-in-law Gertie Brandt; and many nieces and nephews.

Mom’s early childhood memories were of living on the farm in Blumenort with her parents and siblings. When Mom wrote her memoires, her first recorded significant life event was the death of her mother at the age of 8 years and the year that followed. She was grateful when her father remarried and she got her new mother. She wrote, “I thank God for giving us such a good and loving mother.”

In the spring of 1952, she began her journey with God, believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of her sin and for her eternal life. She declared her faith in Jesus through baptism on June 1, 1952. In the Blumenort EMC Church. Also, that summer the family moved to north of Riverton to start a new farm.

Mom and Dad were married on July 21, 1956, at the Mennville EMC church north of Riverton. They started their own homestead in the area where they raised their 11 children. She had wanted a lot of children and worked hard along side Dad to provide for us. She always had a big garden and helped with the hog and beef slaughtering. She always baked the best bread and buns and made the best pickles. We never went hungry even if the bank account was low.

In her last two decades Mom loved to garden, work at the Thrift Shop on Mondays, go to seniors’ Bible studies and social events, attend the church women’s sewing circle every other week, read, knit, make wool blankets and many a pillow. She was glad to be able to share much of the last years with Dad as they had a chance to reconnect with each other in a significant way after us children moved out. What she looked forward to most was when her children and grandchildren came to visit and she was glad for every phone call.

Almost six years ago Mom lost Dad, her loving and faithful husband of 53 years, whom she missed very much. She was quite lonely these last years but held to the fact she was never really alone as God had promised to “never leave or forsake” her. The only real work left for her now was to pray for her children, grandchildren, and pray she did. It was always her strong desire for every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild to follow Jesus closely. May her prayers continue to rise before God’s throne and be answered according to His will.

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, …they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” Revelations 14:13

The viewing took place on Sunday, August 14, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. with a devotional at 7:00, at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

The funeral service took place on Monday, August 15, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Mennville EMC, Riverton, MB, with a viewing prior to the service. The interment followed at the church cemetery.

Arrangements by
BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL
1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in The Carillon on Aug 15, 2016