LAWRENCE HENRY KEHLER

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LAWRENCE (LARRY) HENRY KEHLER Larry Kehler's journey from this world on March 3, 2015 was marked by grace, much as his life had been. As his body lost strength in his last days, he put on the "whole armor of God" and stood as a spiritual inspiration to his friends and family. He goes to meet his parents Peter and Ella Kehler who predeceased him. His gentle diplomatic presence and light humour will be longed for by a large extended family from both Kehler and Neufeld clans and church communities at Charleswood Mennonite Church, Bethel Place and beyond. Left to mourn from his immediate family are his wife Jessie (nee Justina Neufeld), children Daryl and Faye and son-in-law Dennis Lawrynuik, brother Marvin and sister-in-law Kathy (nee Krause) and sister June Krause, and grandchildren Sarah and Peter Lawrynuik. Larry was born near Altona, Manitoba on November 8, 1933. Born into humble circumstances during the Depression, he was unafraid of hard labour and was known to have delivered the most coal in one day while helping with his father's dray business while in high school. But with the encouragement of his parents who valued education, he developed a considerable gift in the use of the written word. He also enjoyed sports including curling and baseball. He recalled with fondness developing his younger brother Marvin's baseball talent also as his coach while still in high school. He received his BA in Theology after studying at Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg and Bethel College in Newton, Kansas and later obtained a Masters in Communications from Penn State University. He described himself as a generalist and found his calling in a succession of roles within the larger Mennonite Church where his ability with words, his gentle diplomacy and his considerable strength of character were developed and appreciated. He was also keen to seek out the talent of the next generation of church leaders as he had been guided by his mentors. His rolls included: General Secretary of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, Asia Secretary for COM, Mennonite Central Committee- executive committee and several staff positions. His writing skills were put to use as editor of both the Mennonite and the Canadian Mennonite. He also served as script writer for the film Menno's Reins. Ministerial roles included pastorship at Charleswood Mennonite Church, and after retirement he helped out several congregations as an interim pastor including his former home town of Altona. After retirement he also enjoyed involvement with the mentorship program for young people at the Charleswood Mennonite Church and visited a friend, Albert at the Larch Community and became a member of their board. In his 2002 trip to Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams, he was described by CBC as a "human shield" as he opposed the impending war. He felt humbled to have walked for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr. Despite his considerable professional contributions and extensive world travel, he is remembered by his children and grandchildren for his playfulness and by his wife as a loving and considerate spouse. Even a couple of days prior to his death, when teased that Jessie had come to the hospital "all dolled up" just for him, he flashed a boyish smile and all I could say was "He's still sunshine!" A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Street, Winnipeg. If friends desire, donations can be made to Mennonite Central Committee or to Mennonite Church Canada.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 05, 2015