ISAAC BLOCK

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ISAAC BLOCK Isaac Block, died peacefully and with dignity surrounded by his family on September 25, 2002 at the St. Boniface General Hospital. He will be deeply missed by his wife Alvina; his sons, Wendell (Anna, grandchildren Misha and Niko), Kevin (Marilyn, grandchildren Kristina and Darryl) daughters, Yvonne (Jan, grandchild James) and Kathy (grandchildren Noah and Anthony). He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Rosella. Isaac was born on February 2, 1935 in Mullingar, SK, the fourth of 15 children. Isaacs life was devoted to his faith, his wife and his family. He was baptized into the Christian faith in September of 1951. On June 21, 1957 he married his soulmate, Alvina Jantzen, and moved to the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario where they lived for 24 years. Isaac worked as Chaplain at the Bethesda Home in Vineland, ON until 1973. In 1970 he was ordained to the Ministry in the Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church and from 1973 to 1981 served as leading pastor. In 1981 he accepted an appointment to the faculty of the Mennonite Brethren Bible College which continued until 1992 when he accepted the position of leading pastor at the Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church, retiring in 1995. He was a life-long student, publishing some of his academic work. Isaac lived with chronic lymphatic leukemia since 1981 and was on dialysis since 1992. He continued to lead an active life, spending time with his children and grandchildren, travelling, curling and golfing. He continued to write and participate in the life of his church community. Isaac was a loving, encouraging and devoted husband. He was an interested and involved father, always taking time for, and very happy to hear from, his children and grandchildren. He was thoughtful in his words and careful in his actions. He had a keen sense of right and wrong, yet maintained strong relationships through differences. He had a very cheerful disposition. Many thanks to the nursing staff of the Dialysis Unit, MICU, 5B and the Palliative Care Unit at the St. Boniface General Hospital. Dad, we admire you for your integrity in your faith and your courage, both in life and in your death. We love you and will miss you, but we are glad that you are free. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 28 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church, 926 Garfield St. Viewing will be on Friday, September, 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Klassen Funeral Chapel, 1897 Henderson Hwy. Donations in Isaacs memory can be made to the Mennonite Central Committee,134 Plaza Dr., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5K9 or to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, 200-55 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1L8. Isaac lived well and he died well. As one of his grandchildren put it, good memories of him will be "more than youll ever know". Arrangements entrusted to Klassen Funeral Chapel, 338-0331.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 28, 2002