DR. WILLIAM (BILL) LOEWEN

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DR. WILLIAM (BILL) LOEWEN December 31, 1929 - February 9, 2000 Peacefully, surrounded by his family, as the sun was rising on a new day, our beloved husband, father and grandfather gently passed away into the arms of his Lord. He will be sadly missed by Selma, his loving wife of 47 years; his children, Geraldene Loewen and Ron Beach, Bev and Calvin Friesen and Randy Loewen and Claire Marion and grandchildren Patrick, Rachelle, Marie, Danielle and Andrew, who were his pride and joy. Bill is survived by his sisters Gerta Funk, Elsie Klassen (Harry), Johanna Dyck (Guy) and Ruth Dyck (John) and brothers Hardy (Ferne), Ernie (Marge) and Ron and by Selmas sisters Ruth Janke (Harvey), Tena Fast (Armin) and sisters-in-law, Helen Funk and Kay Epp. Uncle Bill will also be lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews. Bill was predeceased by his parents William and Sarah Loewen, his sister Ellie and his infant daughter Susan Anne. Bill was born in Winnipeg, the third of nine children, to William and Sarah Loewen who emigrated from Russia in 1926. They settled on a farm near Springstein where Bill grew up. In 1948 he received his high school diploma from the Mennonite Collegiate Institute. After working on the family farm and attending Canadian Mennonite Bible College he went to North Battleford on a Mennonite Central Committee assignment where he met Selma Epp. They married on July 22, 1953 in Laird, Saskatchewan and moved to Winnipeg to begin his studies in medicine. Bill graduated from the Manitoba Medical College, University of Manitoba in 1958, and received his Fellowship in Family Medicine of the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 1979. He was an Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba and loved teaching the medical students who did their rural practicum in Altona. He had a wonderful and rewarding career that spanned 38 years, of which the best 29 were in Altona, Manitoba. Although he greatly enjoyed general practice his passions were surgery and obstetrics. He felt he was very fortunate to be able to experience medicine in other places including Ontario, Kansas, Belize, Paraguay and northern B.C. After his heart surgery in 1989 Bill and Selma moved to Winnipeg. During the last ten years he was able to provide locums for several Winnipeg City physicians. Always looking for an adventure, he was thrilled to have the opportunity to fly into many northern Manitoba communities to practice medicine with the added bonus of coming back with a fishing story. Dad lived life to the fullest, and made the most of each and every day that God gave him. This is truly his gift to us. He was always very thankful to God for giving him excellent health for most of his life and for the means to pursue his passions, travelling, his cottage at Moose Lake and his winters golfing in Arizona. For this he was always truly thankful. But we will remember him most for his absolute delight in the small things of life. Taking his grandchildren to the park and zoo, cultivating his beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, bird watching with the birders, playing bridge and canasta with friends in Mesa, listening to his beloved Mozart, singing in many choirs, hiking and walking with Selma, taking everyone to see the bald eagles at Moose Lake, picking raspberries nectar of the Gods as he would say, his wood carving and his love of chess. Dad was a lover of nature and it was at his beloved cottage at Moose Lake that he could relax and contemplate the wondrous earth God has given us all to enjoy and nurture. He was at his happiest when he could start and complete a new building project at the cottage, or play games around the table or teach his grandchildren to sail, water ski and wind surf. Dad, Moose Lake will be your final place of rest and it is here that you will live on in our hearts forever. As Andrew says Who will drive the boat?. Dad could not have enjoyed the life he did without the love and support of his wife. These last ten years were very special to Selma and she will miss him dearly. Dad was a strong Christian, a kind and gentle man, and loyal friend. He was active in the Altona Mennonite Church, and later enjoyed attending the Charleswood Mennonite Church and the Koinonia Mennonite Fellowship, in Arizona where he made many friends. Many of you were able to ring in the new millennium with him, on his 70th birthday party. He was truly overwhelmed by your presence there. Special thanks to nurses Beth and Simon and to Dr. Barranco of the Neuroscience I.C.U. at St. Josephs Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona; the physicians and pilots of the air medi-vac; the staff of the 3rd floor at Concordia Hospital and Dads cardiologist Hugh Smith, for your care and compassion these past ten days. Heartfelt thanks to our friends, family and for Pastor John Braun, who have so lovingly prayed with us, supported and comforted us and Dad, in his last week of life. You all hold a very special place in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5K9 or the Christian Medical and Dental Society, Box 160, Warkworth, ON, KOK 3KO. According to Bills wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be a celebration of his life on Monday, February 14, 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 870 Carter, Winnipeg and in Mesa, Arizona on Sunday, March 5. A dear friend gave Dad this poem at Christmas and he made sure his children all had copies before he left for Phoenix. My life has been enriched and blessed by many unseen things As fragile as the frost upon a winter window Where, In the morning light appeared an artistry Of leaf and fern Etched upon the glass in powder gray and icy blue A mystery from the darkness of the night And so I came to know with childish wisdom That unseen Power fills the world about me It mattered not that mid-day sun erased This thing of beauty For I had seen it Long enough to know that it was real As real as Unseen things that give to life direction And lift it upward in its dark and troubled Hours With faith unseen And love unspoken. W.O. Abbott Arrangements by Wiebes Funeral Home Ltd. Terry W.H. Wiebe, Director, Altona, MB, 324-5404.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 11, 2000