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LEONARD ARTHUR (ART) REIMER Obituary pic LEONARD ARTHUR (ART) REIMER Obituary pic

LEONARD ARTHUR (ART) REIMER

Born: Dec 26, 1941

Date of Passing: Mar 12, 2023

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LEONARD ARTHUR (ART) REIMER
December 26, 1941 - March 12, 2023


Art Reimer passed away suddenly and peacefully, at home, surrounded by his friends.
He is survived by sons, Kelly (Nancy Janelle) and Kent (Melanie) and grandsons, Weston and Graysen. Also surviving is his sister Beverley Penner of Steinbach; brother Ted (Mary Beth) of Holland, Michigan, brother-in-law Ron Castle of Kansas City, Missouri; sister-in-law Shirley Penner (Don McLean) of Calgary; and sister-in-law Joyce (Marvin) Warman of Burbank, California, along with their families. He is also survived by especially close friends, David and Lynne Thompson of Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Faith; his parents, Leonard and Bertha; parents-in-law, Henry and Amanda Rempel; sister Barbara Reimer; sister Marcia Castle; and brother-in-law Jim Penner.
Art was born in Steinbach, the second of five children. In 1953, nine-year-old Faith moved with her family to Steinbach from Dalmeny, SK and declared during morning recess of her first day of school that she would marry the boy wearing the red pants. It came to pass.
After a year managing the produce department at the store soon to be known as Penner Foods in Steinbach, Art left for Chicago, where he attended Trinity College, studying history and education.
Upon returning to Steinbach, Art began his teaching career, briefly at the junior high level and then at high school, including teaching in the first years of the new Steinbach Regional Secondary School, where he was a department-mate with his close friend and brother-in-law, Gil. While there, Art became involved with the Hanover Teachers Association. From there, he was elected to the position of President of the Manitoba Teachers Society (MTS) in 1976, precipitating what was then a temporary move to Winnipeg. Following his term as president, Art took a position as a staff officer at the MTS, where he worked for the duration of his career. He retired as General Secretary in 2004.
Art's work took him to all parts of Manitoba, as well as to all provinces and territories. Art's interest in the world and Faith's love of travel meant that much of Art's retirement involved travel to the many corners of the world. His next two major trips, planned with family, will have to be taken without him, but Art still visited nearly 60 countries on six continents. The baseball trip he gifted to and went on with his sons - 19 games in 15 cities, in 19 days, during the Kansas City Royals championship season - will never be forgotten.
Other than the travel, Art's retirement involved two stages: a caregiving stage, during which he provided primary support for both of his parents-in-law during their final years, and then with Faith, for whom he provided support as well as any spouse has. The second stage was without the types of pressing concerns to which Art had devoted his life. This stage, including the isolation he willingly undertook during the height of the pandemic, provided new challenges. Art managed those challenges brilliantly, including involving himself in his church's food bank, helping the sponsorship of a wonderful newcomer family, and moving into a retirement facility, where he met and re-met friends and was thriving in all the social activity.
Art was as kind, selfless, and generous as they come. And he was these things constantly, in every aspect of his life. He cared deeply about his family, and demonstrated this in every way imaginable. He gave to them constantly, without ever making a tally, or expecting anything in return. He will be missed tremendously. And his example will continue to inspire those who knew him best.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 18, at Grace Bible Church, 366 Oakwood St., Winnipeg.


Publish Date: Mar 18, 2023

LEONARD ARTHUR (ART) REIMER
December 26, 1941 - March 12, 2023


Art Reimer passed away suddenly and peacefully, at home, surrounded by his friends.
He is survived by sons, Kelly (Nancy Janelle) and Kent (Melanie) and grandsons, Weston and Graysen. Also surviving is his sister Beverley Penner of Steinbach; brother Ted (Mary Beth) of Holland, Michigan, brother-in-law Ron Castle of Kansas City, Missouri; sister-in-law Shirley Penner (Don McLean) of Calgary; and sister-in-law Joyce (Marvin) Warman of Burbank, California, along with their families. He is also survived by especially close friends, David and Lynne Thompson of Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Faith; his parents, Leonard and Bertha; parents-in-law, Henry and Amanda Rempel; sister Barbara Reimer; sister Marcia Castle; and brother-in-law Jim Penner.
Art was born in Steinbach, the second of five children. In 1953, nine-year-old Faith moved with her family to Steinbach from Dalmeny, SK and declared during morning recess of her first day of school that she would marry the boy wearing the red pants. It came to pass.
After a year managing the produce department at the store soon to be known as Penner Foods in Steinbach, Art left for Chicago, where he attended Trinity College, studying history and education.
Upon returning to Steinbach, Art began his teaching career, briefly at the junior high level and then at high school, including teaching in the first years of the new Steinbach Regional Secondary School, where he was a department-mate with his close friend and brother-in-law, Gil. While there, Art became involved with the Hanover Teachers Association. From there, he was elected to the position of President of the Manitoba Teachers Society (MTS) in 1976, precipitating what was then a temporary move to Winnipeg. Following his term as president, Art took a position as a staff officer at the MTS, where he worked for the duration of his career. He retired as General Secretary in 2004.
Art's work took him to all parts of Manitoba, as well as to all provinces and territories. Art's interest in the world and Faith's love of travel meant that much of Art's retirement involved travel to the many corners of the world. His next two major trips, planned with family, will have to be taken without him, but Art still visited nearly 60 countries on six continents. The baseball trip he gifted to and went on with his sons - 19 games in 15 cities, in 19 days, during the Kansas City Royals championship season - will never be forgotten.
Other than the travel, Art's retirement involved two stages: a caregiving stage, during which he provided primary support for both of his parents-in-law during their final years, and then with Faith, for whom he provided support as well as any spouse has. The second stage was without the types of pressing concerns to which Art had devoted his life. This stage, including the isolation he willingly undertook during the height of the pandemic, provided new challenges. Art managed those challenges brilliantly, including involving himself in his church's food bank, helping the sponsorship of a wonderful newcomer family, and moving into a retirement facility, where he met and re-met friends and was thriving in all the social activity.
Art was as kind, selfless, and generous as they come. And he was these things constantly, in every aspect of his life. He cared deeply about his family, and demonstrated this in every way imaginable. He gave to them constantly, without ever making a tally, or expecting anything in return. He will be missed tremendously. And his example will continue to inspire those who knew him best.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 18, at Grace Bible Church, 366 Oakwood St., Winnipeg.


Publish Date: Mar 15, 2023

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 15, 2023, Mar 18, 2023

Condolences & Memories (15 entries)

  • I am sorry for the loss of Art, a colleague through my MTS Executive years. His laugh was infectious and his wise comments gratefully considered. - Posted by: Vaughn Wadelius (MTS executive colleague) on: Mar 22, 2023

  • I am sorry to hear of Art's passing, and regret not having reached out to him in recent years. We were neighbours, classmates and friends thoughout grade school, junior high and again in Grade 12. They say that only the good die young, which would certainly apply in this case. My sincere condolences to your family on this sad occasion. God Bless you all. - Posted by: Bob Strong (Classmate) on: Mar 18, 2023

  • My condolences to the Reimer family. I worked with Art at The Manitoba Teachers' Society for many years. I also knew his wife Faith. We had a lot of discussions about work, life and family. I am very sorry for your loss. - Posted by: Iris Andrusyshyn (co-worker) on: Mar 18, 2023

  • Art and I were family, friend and colleagues. We enjoyed supporting each each on the sports field, and as colleagues in teaching. We worked on a number of projects around the house, community and teaching. Condolences to the family. Gil Penner - Posted by: GIL and HEATHER PENNER (Family ,friend and colleague) on: Mar 18, 2023

  • Sincere condolences to family and friends. Art will be dearly missed! He was a great friend, teacher and administrator! - Posted by: Elbert Toews (Teacher colleague, principal of SRSS, Steinbach ) on: Mar 18, 2023

  • I've had the pleasure to meet Art in the past as one of the members of Linden Park South committee. My sincere condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. 🌹🙏 - Posted by: Roxie (Neighbour @ 600 DOVERCOURT Dr.) on: Mar 18, 2023

  • Our parents had three sons-in-law (they called their sons) all born in the same year. There was great kidding amongst the family as to who was oldest with Art being the youngest. Art was great fun to be with!! What should always be recognized was the love and support he provided for many years to our sister, Faith as well as to our beloved parents. Art was a kind and caring individual, loved dearly by our family. He will be sorely missed by all of us! With love, Shirley Penner, Don McLean and family - Posted by: Shirley Penner & Don McLean (Sister & brother in-law) on: Mar 17, 2023

  • I am so sorry for your loss, Kelly and Kent and family. Art was a dear friend and colleague to my late husband Aubrey and me as well as a MTS colleague over the years. Aubrey and Art were a team who treated one another with respect and support as they faced the daily challenges. I remember Art encouraging me to run for MTS president in 1979 when I needed that extra push. He always had my back when we were MTS colleagues. May he rest in peace with Faith by his side. - Posted by: Linda Asper (Friend and colleague) on: Mar 17, 2023

  • To the Reimer family, As members of the Executives of Divisional Teacher Associations and the Manitoba Teachers’’ Society, my wife Pat and I had many dealings with Art in a variety of capacities. We were always appreciative of Art’s professionalism, competence, people skills and empathy. No job was ever to small or too big for Art. I once observed Art making coffee for a Provincial Executive meeting and asked why he was doing that. His response was simple, “It’s part of the ‘General’ in General Secretary.” We will always remember Art as a man of his word and his actions. Art set an example for all to follow. Our condolences. Paul LaRiviere and Pat Lewicki “If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come.” - Arapaho - Posted by: Paul LaRiviere and Pat Lewicki (Colleagues ) on: Mar 16, 2023

  • My condolences to Art's family! Art & I were classmates throughout high school in Steinbach (how he would torment certain teachers) & then colleagues in the profession of teaching. That Art should pass away on the very same day as the last survivor of our collegiate teachers, very esteemed Mr. Henry Toews who wasn't much older than us students, cannot go unnoticed! We all enjoyed a glorious and most memorable 50 year Grade 12 reunion not that long ago in Steinbach at which time we all reminisced about those wonder years & we were all young again even for just that day...an unforgettable experience! Art was larger than life with a booming deep voice & huge laugh as well as an unrelenting humour/wit to match that spirited personality; he wasn't just a successful teacher; he went on to become the President of the Manitoba Teachers' Society & later General Secretary of MTS. His sudden passing leaves me deeply saddened but also ever so grateful for all the years of memories that I will always cherish. Rest well, Art, with your beloved wife Faith. Helen Feniuk, Classmate, friend, & colleague - Posted by: Helen Feniuk (Friend & colleague) on: Mar 15, 2023

  • As my history teacher, Art Reimer was one of my favorite teachers in high school. He made history so interesting by having us look at the significance of events rather than memorizing dates. His fun-loving, humorous, laid-back personality made his classes a joy to attend. I loved that he was secure enough as a teacher to encourage us to challenge him on his marking, having us try to convince him with our reasoned arguments. I loved the way he would listen, smile, then say, "okay," raising the grade (if the argument swayed him!) When I observe events happening in the political world, I still often hear his voice, telling us important concepts and principles about history and politics. Condolences to and prayers for his family and friends. - Posted by: Anne (Penner) Sulz (Former Student) on: Mar 15, 2023

  • One of the things I will miss about Uncle Art is his wit and boisterous laugh! - Posted by: Maria Boulin (Niece) on: Mar 15, 2023

  • I am saddened by the loss of this wonderful man! My heart goes out to his beloved family and friends. He was a truly remarkable teacher and human being and made an indelible impression on my young life as a Grade 9 student. I went into his class thinking I hated history but he instilled in me a curiosity and passion for history that has continued throughout my life. I will be forever grateful for his part in shaping my life. - Posted by: Marge Koop (Former student) on: Mar 15, 2023

  • Art and I worked together often when he was union and I was management. I had the utmost respect for him and often enjoyed his company informally when we got to chat. It’s been many years since we have met. Many fond memories. He was honest, dependable, trustworthy and kind. Sorry to hear of his passing. Condolences to the family. A sad time. - Posted by: Karen Rice (Colleague) on: Mar 15, 2023

  • ...a supportive friend and an honourable man. - Posted by: JIM PATTERSON (FRIEND) on: Mar 15, 2023

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