C. WILBERT LOEWEN

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C. WILBERT LOEWEN October 22, 1922 - February 2, 2016 Bert passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, gracefully and thankfully, with his beloved helper Wilf Bergen at his side. Bert is predeceased by his wife, Katherine (Kae) Loewen and his daughter-in-law, Patty Loewen (nee Caine). Bert is survived by his brother Mel Loewen (Elfrieda) and sister Emmeline (George): and his children: Ruth Loewen, Phil Loewen (Sue), Mary Ann Loewen (Roy), Chris Loewen (Patty, deceased 2013), Rick Loewen (Deb) and Lynda Loewen (Elden). He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Bert grew up in Steinbach, Manitoba. His parents (J.T. and Margaret Loewen) were one of the founding families of Steinbach. Bert's family was poor, but most people were at that time. He often reminisced about his mother, how she had a big, productive garden, and how she shared her preserves with those even poorer than she and her husband. He also remembered his mother wanting to keep him young and close; he said he wore "short pants" (the attire of the very young boy) quite a bit longer than other boys. Growing up Mennonite in Steinbach meant church and hard work. Bert's early life was full of both. His commitment to the church was formed when he was young and never wavered. His first job was as a house mover in the family company. Taught by their father, he and his brother Mel earned their first real money and sense of mastery in this tricky and highly skilled trade. We all grew up hearing the story of their moving a whole community to higher land near Pine Falls, Manitoba. Bert had a lively curiosity. Once the family decided to leave the house moving business, our father went to school. Over the course of the next 10 years, he earned a Bachelors degree from Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg, and a Masters degree from Goshen College in Indiana. It was at Mennonite Brethren Bible College that he and our mother met. Thereafter she moved when his education or work demanded it, sometimes more willingly than other times. His careers and vocations over the years were many. One of his interests was church leadership, and as such he was a lay minister at three EMB churches in Manitoba (Avalon now St. Vital EMC, Steinbach and Grunthal), as well as one in Lincoln, Nebraska. His preaching style was entirely his own: certainly some of his techniques would never be taught in a preaching course. He routinely made his sermon notes on the paper napkin he had beside his plate at breakfast, the hour before he was to speak. While charismatic, dramatic and articulate, his sublime confidence occasionally got him into trouble. Our mother liked to tell of the time he forgot an anecdote's ending, and rather than admit this, he simply said to his audience; "I'll let you figure it out for yourselves." He taught high school, he was a guidance coordinator, a superintendent of schools, and the executive director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). It was this last role that was undoubtedly his favourite. He was profoundly moved by the hunger many in the world experience, and he embraced the opportunity to do something about it. Under his directorship, CFGB grew from a small program under the umbrella of Mennonite Central Committee, to become the largest non-government organization (by cash donations) in Canada, with 12 church partners added during his tenure (there are now 15 church partners). He was a creative thinker, and reveled in the challenge of being told something could not be done. For dad, this was just a prompt to find a new way of doing that very thing. He negotiated with the government to allow farmers to donate their "above quota" grain, providing farmers with a way to get their grain, that had in the past moldered on granary floors, into the hands of starving people. His verve made him a very good administrator, but not always an easy boss or colleague. After retirement, he and our mother became volunteers with Open Circle. They formed an abiding relationship with the prisoner assigned to them. The stayed in touch with him for many years, and knowing him softened their attitude towards prisoners and their rights. We knew our father to be self-reliant and competent, but it was perhaps not until 1994 that we saw him for who he truly was. He suffered a devastating stroke as a result of open-heart surgery. The stroke left him with some memory impairment, limited spatial-relations and completely blind. At the age of 72, he had to learn to walk again, he had to re-learn the names of his children, and he had to learn how to live in a world without eyes. No one was prepared for his drive and perseverance. When the well-meaning staff at the hospital said he would never walk again, he got to work, spending hours each day feeling along the walls, graduating to the arm of a staff or family member, cane in hand, until one day he walked back in to the hospital to say "hi" to the staff who had been sure he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Almost all of his memory came back, and he and our mother fashioned a new life for themselves. They travelled, entertained, debated political and religious ideas, and developed a new-found appreciation for one another. While nothing about these times of transitions was easy, and much honest complaining was heard, our father embodied tenacity. His favourite expression during this time of recovery was: "There's more than one way to skin a cat." For 22 years our father lived in a world of complete darkness, and he adapted. The man who had been so large and independent - who had travelled the globe, forgotten to check with his wife about important things (like the fact that they were moving), and juggled a multi-million-dollar relief organization - somehow adjusted to never taking another step without someone leading him. He was granted the Order of Manitoba in 2010, in honour of his contribution to the formation of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. He cherished this distinction and always said he and Kae earned this award together. As he became older and his strength declined, he spent his days sitting in his wheelchair in his room at the personal care home. His wife of 60 years had died, and while he had a companion with him for much of the day, he still spent hours alone with CBC radio via his headphones, listening to the latest news or to his beloved sports games. And he prayed. At each juncture in his health journey, we expected that he would not be able to bear it, that this would be the last straw and his resilience would be overcome. It never happened. Four days before his death he and his helper visited CFGB to see how the organization was running. He also worked out for the last time at the "Y". On the day of his death, he attended Morning Song at the personal care home, then asked to be put to bed. He explained to those who visited that "He wanted to sleep now". His legacy lies in his big personality, to be sure, as well as in his commitment to helping to alleviate suffering in this world. But to those of us who knew him these last years, his greatest legacy lies in his steadiness of spirit, his gratitude for the love and care he received, and his simple, abiding faith in his Creator. The funeral service will be held on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with the burial to follow at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB. The viewing take place prior to the service. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Wilbert may be made to the Canadian Food Grains Bank, Winnipeg, MB. Arrangements by BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL 1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 06, 2016