ARNO KROEKER

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ARNO KROEKER After a courageous battle with cancer, Dad peacefully passed away at home supported by his family on February 12, 2005. Dad was born May 23, 1924 on the farm at what was then called Prairie Rose, MB. He was the third of seven children born to Peter T. and Louise Kroeker. In 1928, when Dad was four years old, his family moved back to Steinbach, MB to the original Cornelius T. Kroeker homestead, which is located at the present corner of Main Street and Kroeker Avenue. In 1935, when Dad was 11 years old, the family moved back to Prairie Rose. Mom remembers Dad telling her that at first he had missed Steinbach very much as Prairie Rose just seemed to have mosquitoes and bush. A significant event in Dad's life in Prairie Rose was being baptized upon confession of his faith in 1946 and joining the Prairie Rose Evangelical Mennonite Church. Uncle Ed, Dad's older brother, remembers Dad riding Sandy, a farm horse, to go visit Mom in Landmark. And Mom remembers Dad coming to visit her in a Model A Ford. They were married June 14, 1947. They were married for 57 years and eight months when Dad passed away. When Dad and his siblings reached the age of 21 their father gave them each 40 acres of land and the option to buy another 40 acres, which Dad did. Dad and Mom started off their married life living on a lot adjacent to the Kroeker homestead. Dad worked on his father's farm and cleared bush in the community with his cousin Ralph Reimer. In 1951 Dad and Mom bought the Banman farm just south of Landmark on Hwy. 206. While on the Banman farm, Dad drove long distance for Penner International for one year. After that, he drove for Reimer Express until 1976. A number of years later Dad and Mom purchased Mom's grandparents' house (Henry R. Reimer) in Landmark. From there they moved in 1960 to their new house in the north end of Landmark. It was during this time that their family was completed with the birth of Marlene joining her brothers, Allan and Denver and her sister Norma. Also at this time Reg Mooney came to live with the family. Dad drove truck for many years and at one time had up to 11 of his own highway tractors on the road for Reimer Express Lines. It is interesting to note that around this time Dad rented a service garage for one year for his trucks on Princess Street in Winnipeg which later became the downtown restaurant called the Old Spaghetti Factory. In the last years of truck driving, Dad trained drivers on an overnight run from Winnipeg to Kenora or Dryden and back. In 1976 at the age of 52, Dad embarked on a new adventure and bought the farm in Arborg. Mom recounted the times during that first year when Dad would drive to Headingley to meet his truck driving buddies at the coffee shop to reminisce about the old trucking days. Dad loved working and building up his turkey farm. At one point it was the largest individually owned turkey farm in all of Manitoba. However, the time for retirement had to come and in 1992 his daughter Norma and husband Albert Doerksen bought the farm. In 1999 Dad and Mom moved from the farm into the town of Arborg. Back in 1977, shortly after moving to the Arborg farm, Rose Orbanski asked Mom if she would be willing to start a Sunday School which would include Rose's seven grandchildren. Mom agreed and with the encouragement of Dad and the help of Rose Orbanski they started a Sunday School class in July 1977. In May 1978, the church was officially organized and recognized by the government. Dad enjoyed serving in the church for many years on the Board of Social and Spiritual Concerns. He loved the Village Missions church and praised the Lord for its growth. Dad was a Gideon for 28 years. In 1977 Dad started handing out Bibles. In the last few years he made several trips across the lake on winter roads with fellow Gideons to hand out New Testaments in the schools. In his many adventures and travels with Mom, Dad never forgot to take along Bibles to give away. One special Bible giving occasion was when he gave a New Testament to one of the soldiers in the French Foreign Legion that rescued Mom, Dad, Denver, Elvera and family from the civil war in Chad, Africa. As well, Dad served on the Town of Arborg Cheer Board for many years. He really enjoyed preparing and delivering Christmas Hampers. After his retirement from the farm and having moved into town, an almost daily highlight became coffee time at Chicken Chef restaurant where he would catch up on the news of the community and be an encouragement to others there. Dad loved travelling and over the years Mom and him enjoyed numerous trips to different countries in Europe, Chad, Africa, Belize, Mexico, Israel and many places in the U.S.A., including Alaska. Dad and Mom also enjoyed visiting their children and grandchildren. Our family has wonderful memories of our frequent ski trips to the Canadian Rockies. Dad is survived by his loving wife Elnora; son Allan (Bernice) Kroeker; daughter Norma (Albert) Doerksen; son Denver (Elvera) Kroeker; daughter Marlene (Don) Bodnarus; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Dad was predeceased by his parents Peter T. and Louise Kroeker; his brother Vernon; his sister Anna and his brother-in-law Harold Hildebrand. Viewing will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 150 Penfeld Dr., Steinbach on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. with a meditation at 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Arborg Community Centre. Interment at the Prairie Rose E. M. C. Cemetery at 4:30 p.m. The family would like to thank Dr. Beukes, Georgina Ball, the hospital staff and all the wonderful homecare workers who provided loving care for Dad. We would also like to thank all the people of Arborg Christian Fellowship for their prayers, meals, visits and love shown to the family during Dad's illness. Donations in memory of Arno Kroeker may be made the Gideons Memorial Bible Plan, c/o Menno Friesen, Box 39, Riverton, MB R0C 2R0, or to IRHA North East Palliative Care, Arborg Community Health Centre, Box 423, Arborg, MB R0C 0A0. Arrangements entrusted to: Birchwood Funeral Chapel Steinbach Winnipeg, MB 1-888-454-1030 or 1-204-346-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 15, 2005