Tina Kroeker

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TINA KROEKER, 92, peacefully fell asleep into the waiting arms of her Jesus on October 19, 2013. Waiting to meet her there were her parents, one infant brother, one sister and two infant granddaughters.

Mom arrived on August 1, 1921, the first born in the pioneer family of Isaac F. and Caroline (nee Goertzen) Giesbrecht of the Prairie Rose district of southeastern Manitoba. Grandpa had not had time to finish the cradle so they pulled a drawer out of their dresser and used that instead to shelter their new born baby.

Mom had a happy childhood, mixing pleasure with the hard work of pioneer life. She took her schooling, grades one through eight, at the Linden School, walking two miles each way. She fondly remembered the cold, full moon, winter nights when they would heat up rocks to keep warm in the cutter, hitch up the horses and drive out to see her grandparents in Steinbach.

At age 15 she ventured outside of her sheltered rural world to live and work in Winnipeg. She took a difficult sewing course at 17 which, true to her pioneering spirit, she put to good use. She sewed countless clothes and wedding dresses and went on to work for the Province of Manitoba coordinating the 4-H program and also operating her own retail outlet. She was instrumental in starting the 4-H sewing club in Landmark, teaching a generation of young ladies the art of sewing. Her passion for sewing also led her to involvement in the ladies sewing circle in the Prairie Rose Church.

Mom and Dad started dating at age 19 and were married on July 11, 1943. They felt God calling them to an agrarian life style and used this calling to model a lifestyle of caring, sharing and giving to their children and to their community. In retirement they built a house on the exact location where Dad had built a small house at the start of their marriage.

We remember Mom as a loving, caring, gentle person who in her own quiet way modeled her love for Jesus through selfless devotion to her husband, her family, and the many lives she touched along the way.

Recently Mom dreamt about angels. She said “there were so many angels around me, soft angels.” When asked if she could see into Heaven she replied “no, there were so many angels around me I couldn’t see into Heaven”. The angels have now stepped aside from the door and have carried her up into the arms of the Jesus in whom she trusted and believed.

In Mom’s own words “nich veet hinji” (not too far behind) are her husband of 70 years Edwin Kroeker, their children: Tim (Elsie), Wayne (Marcia), Lynne (Roy Hildebrand) and Teri (Jake Bergen), grandchildren: Elona (Rodney Hine), Jonathan, Kristopher, Jason (friend Trish), Shonna (Tanner Duncalfe), Lukas, Kate, Maria, Andrew (Serena), Janice (Lance Baratte), great-grandchildren: Austin, Rowan, Kaden, Deklyan, Isaiah, Evander; one brother Daniel and one sister Marina (Ken Bullard).

Thank you Mom for a life well lived.

Dad and the family wish to express a deep felt appreciation to the staff at Resthaven and to Dr. Krahn for the stellar care you provided at Resthaven. May God richly bless you for being the hands and feet of Jesus for her.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Prairie Rose Church, Landmark, MB. Interment to follow at the church cemetery.

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

As published in The Carillon on Oct 24, 2013