Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
BERNHARD (BEN) SAWATZKY
Born: Apr 30, 1934
Date of Passing: Sep 09, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryBERNHARD (BEN) SAWATZKY
Ben was born in the village of Gnadenthal, Manitoba. He graduated from Mennonite Collegiate Institute in 1952 and went on to teach elementary school in several small villages and for many years in the Seven Oaks School Division at Centennial and OV Jewitt Elementary Schools. He married Mary Neufeld in 1961, and they raised their three children, Donald, Doris and Arlene in the Crestview neighborhood in St. James, Winnipeg. Ben and Mary attended Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church where Ben was a lay minister and interim pastor for a time. They spent their retirement years living at Lindenwood Estates. Mary passed away of cancer in 2020. Ben spent his final months living at the Lindenwood Manor Assisted Living facility.
Ben was predeceased by his parents, Bernhard Sr and Margaret (Klassen) Sawatzky, his wife of 59 years Mary (Neufeld), grandchildren, Jessica and Christopher Sawatzky, sisters, Erika and Elsie, brother John, sisters-in-law, Hilda, Helen and Susie and brothers-in-law, John and Bill.
Ben is survived by his children, Donald (Kathy), Doris (Barry) Dickson and Arlene (Larry) Arnold; grandchildren, Matthew and Michael Sawatzky, Thomas and Alec Dickson, Michelle (Keaton) Bachalo and Breanna Arnold (Troy Sawyer), and great grandchildren, Adrian and Blake Bachalo; as well as brothers, Jake, George, Vic (Anne) and Louie (Nancy); sisters, Irene (Gerry) Strempler, Emmy (Ron) Wiebe and Hedy Wiebe; sister-in-law Sara (John*); brother-in-law Bill Reimer (Elsie*); in- laws, John and Tina Neufeld, Martin and Elsie Neufeld, Katie and Willie Achtnig and John and Hilda Fallows.
The family wishes to express gratitude to Dr. Stewart Silagy, who found Ben’s cancer in 1997 when others had missed it, and gave him almost 30 extra years of life, the Home Care workers and other staff at Lindenwood, the wonderful staff at the Victoria Hospital Urgent Care and at Riverview Health Centre 3E.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mennonite Benevolent Society Ukraine Project:
http://www.mennonite
benevolentsociety.org/index.htm
A funeral will take place on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 11:00 am at Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church, 926 Garfield Street, Winnipeg, with interment to follow at Springstein Cemetery.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 12, 2026
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
-
I had the privilege of working with Ben at Centennial school. He was a fine man, gentle, soft, spoken, wonderful smile, and a pleasure to be with. My sincerest condolences to his family. - Posted by: Betty Hencel (Friend) on: Oct 05, 2026
-
I never forgot Mr. Sawatsky. He was my Grade 5 and 6 teacher at Centennial School back in the 1970s. It’s funny how certain teachers stay in your memory for a lifetime. He was kind and a genuinely great teacher. I’m grateful I had the chance to be one of his students. My sincere condolences to his family. - Posted by: Darlene (Former Student) on: Sep 17, 2026
-
Mr Sawatsky was my grade 5 teacher at Centennial school. He was very kind and I remember him vividly. He always was dressed in dress pants, shirt and tie and a vest! He left a mark in his students memory. My condolences to his family. - Posted by: Shari wolfson (Former student) on: Sep 13, 2026