RENATA KROEKER

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RENATA KROEKER (nee DYCK) April 11, 1923 - November 30, 2015 Surrounded by family, Renata (Rena) Kroeker passed away peacefully, on Monday, November 30, 2015 at the age of 92. She was predeceased by her sisters: Eliese (Lieschen), Anna, Irma and Helen, and her brothers John, Peter and Cornelius (C.J.). She will be deeply missed by her husband George, her children Ken, Harold (Linda), Philip (Sheila), Murray (Janine), and her grandchildren: Evan, Kathryn, Colson and Logan. Also left to mourn are her sister Clara, sisters-in-law Paula and Wilma, and many nieces and nephews. Renata (Rena) was born on April 11, 1923 in Lysanderhoeh, Am Trakt, Russia, the youngest of nine children, to Johannes J. and Renate Mathies Dyck. In 1927, the family immigrated to Haywarden, SK, later moving to Laird and then Tiefengrund congregation. Upon confession of her faith, Rena was baptized on May 28, 1939. She received her early education in Laird, then at Rosthern Junior College, followed by four months of Normal School. For the next several years she completed a degree at the University of Saskatchewan while teaching part-time. During her final teaching stint in a remote settlement in northern Saskatchewan, she had a traumatic encounter with a timber wolf, which led her to decide on a career change. A few years later, she graduated with a Master's degree in Library Science from McGill University. After serving a short term with the Mennonite Central Committee in Columbia, she came to Winnipeg during the 1950 flood to take a position as librarian with the University of Manitoba. She lived with Helen Friesen, attending First Mennonite Church, where she sang in the choir. One day after choir practice she met George, and they were married in 1952. When the first of the four sons was born in 1956, Rena decided to become a full-time homemaker. For the next 15 years she put her career on hold. The boys had the assurance that she would be there when they and their friends came home from school. She wrote: "I have never regretted leaving my career for this time of living totally for and with my family." She loved her boys very much despite their often mischievous pranks, and she was very proud of their accomplishments. Education in religious and secular matters was very important to her, but she also told her children: "You may follow your own will within the parameters of your faith." During these years she became very involved in church committees and the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. Her role as deaconess was most gratifying. She was an eloquent, dynamic speaker on a variety of topics. People said that when Rena spoke, you didn't nap. When she wished to return to her profession, she incorporated her business as Rena's Library Services. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she organized and maintained professional libraries in most of the city hospitals, as well as the Canadian Mennonite Bible College Library (a huge task), the Catherine Booth College fledgling library, and the library of Bethel Church. She was honoured with life membership in the Canadian Library Association, participated in the faculty procession at the Catherine Booth graduation ceremony, and received honours at a reception at Government House. During 1987 to 1989, she and George served as teachers in Nanchang, China under the aegis of the China Educational Exchange and the Amity Foundation. Rena was assigned to teach conversational English, where her rapport with the students and her teaching abilities were quickly revealed. Word soon spread so that even the college president came to watch her in action. During vacation she was happy to visit friends in Brunei, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as a son in Indonesia. She enjoyed the adventures and the opportunities to experience the different foods and cultures of Southeast Asia, especially in China's southeast interior. Although travel conditions were often very rugged, she never complained. A highlight of this time was a trip through China with the whole extended family. After they came home to Canada, Rena and George were prepared to return to China, but because of health issues it was not to be. Nevertheless, they were able to enjoy happy times with their grandchildren as well as travels to Europe, several South American countries, Alaska, Turkey, and Egypt, and several cruises. She especially enjoyed camping in the Arizona desert with friends. As Rena wrote: "We praise God for the rich life of varied and interesting experiences, often difficult but seldom dull, and always God was there. To Him be praise and glory." We would like to thank the staff for the loving and devoted care Rena received at Simkin Centre. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Manitoba Mennonite Central Committee (MCC Manitoba) or a charity of your choice. The family would like to extend an invitation to a celebration of Rena's life on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Avenue, Winnipeg. Viewing will take place one hour prior to the service. Arrangements by BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL 1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 03, 2015