MARGARET (MARGARETHA) SAWATZKY (KLASSEN)

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MARGARET (MARGARETHA) SAWATZKY (nee KLASSEN) On March 19, 2005 Margaret went to be with her Lord and Saviour. She was predeceased by her husband Bernhard in 1971, one grandson and one great-granddaughter and one great-grandson. She will be lovingly remembered by her six sons, Ben (Mary), Jake (Helen) George (Hilda), John (Sara), Vic (Anne) and Louie (Nancy); and her five daughters, Erica Krempler (Archie Delorme), Irene (Gerry Strempler), Elsie (Bill Reimer), Emmy (Ron Wiebe) and Hedy (John Wiebe); and 30 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Margaret was born on May 2, 1909 in Gnadenthal, Baratov in Ukraine to Jacob J. and Margaretha Ens Klassen. The family left the Ukraine in 1923 to settle in southern Manitoba in the village of Blumenort. In 1933 Margaret met and married our father Bernhard G. Sawatzky, who had also made the trek to this new country. They took up residence in the farming village of Gnadenthal, MB. There were few conveniences in the lean years of the 1930s. They were a young conscientious couple who worked hard to make ends meet. Margaret loved being a mother and served her Lord by supporting her husband and their children and grandchildren throughout her many years. She was thankful for God's many blessings, among them her family and friends. Her desire more than anything was to see her children and grandchildren continue to grow in their walks with the Lord. Her positive outlook on life encouraged everyone around her and helped her face the physical challenges of her later years. A celebration of Mom's life will be held Thursday, March 24 at Bethel Mennonite Church, Stafford and Carter, at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at the Blumenort Cemetery near Gretna. The family would like to thank the staff at Oakview Place for their care and attention to their mother over the last three years. Donations may be made to the Mennonite Benevolent Society for the Mennonite Family Centre (in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine) 1045 Concordia Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2K 3S7. Wiebe Funeral Home of Winkler in charge of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 22, 2005