- Winnipeg Free Press Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
HELMUT HARDER
Helmut George Harder passed away on May 7, 2026, at the age of 92. He leaves to mourn his sons, Bryan (Cheryl Pauls) and Randall (Libid Zyla); grandchildren, Jonathan, Nicholas, William, and Kathryn; and brothers, Waldo and Ron. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Irma Gladys (Epp) Harder, daughter Marilee Harder, parents, brother John Harder, and died just hours before sister Marianne Enns.
Born on February 22, 1934, Helmut was shaped through working on the family fruit farm in Vineland, ON, being a good student, practising piano, and participating actively in the church. While teaching elementary school he met his wife Irma, also an educator and musician. They married in 1957 and in 1962 moved to Winnipeg as Helmut became a professor of Theology at Canadian Mennonite Bible College. In 1971 he completed his PhD at University of Toronto. Through CMBC Helmut pursued his deep commitments to education and scholarship for purposes of forming lives of faith, peace, and service, and for building up the body and witness of the church. From 1990-99 he served as General Secretary of Conference of Mennonites in Canada. Retirement included a five-year Mennonite-Catholic Dialogue, through which he developed a profound commitment to ecumenism.
Family trips via motorhome and occasionally overseas cultivated strong family bonds. His was a life well lived; in Helmut’s words, “dedication to Christ through the church is worth the risk.”
Donations in memory of Helmut Harder can be made to Canadian Mennonite University or Mennonite Church Canada.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday May 14, at Charleswood Mennonite Church, 699 Haney Street.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 13, 2026