Kehlers who honor past and inspire other Berliner Kehler family members
Guy W. Hogue, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025 in Huntsville, Texas. He was a man of faith, a chemist, businessman, author, and artist – a Renaissance man. Born in 1934 on a farm near Lone Wolf, OK. His father was a black smith.
He is survived by his children, Terry, Al, Sandra and their families. Guy is also survived by his brother-in-law Sydney (Helen) Reimer. Continue reading “Guy Wendell Hogue (1934-2025)”
With both joy and sorrow, our family celebrates Dad’s answered prayer of being called home for Christmas. Stanley Kehler passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of December 25, 2024, at the age of 86.
Stan is survived by his second wife, Martha. He leaves behind four children: daughter Laura Plett and her children Jeremy, Kara & Sidney Wiebe; daughter Valerie & Mark Reimer, with their children Jonah, Jerica & Joseph Nickel; son Brad & Pam, with their children Graeme and Peyton; son Chadwin & Nevada, with daughters Jade and Rynn. He also leaves one great-grandson, Jude Wiebe. Continue reading “Stanley Kehler (1938-2024)”
In August, the Kehlers held a one-day reunion in the Mitchell Arena, near Steinbach. Both physically and symbolically an arena is the proper place for a Kehler clan reunion.
Mennonite Mirror, October 1979
The Kehlers living in the wider Steinbach region are a truly remarkable clan. Not only are they as numerous as chokecherries in August, but like chokecherries they grow in dense family clusters in close proximity to each other. There the comparison breaks down. Chokecherries are silent, waiting to be picked. The Kehlers are never silent and anything but passive. They are active, spirited and vocal – if not downright gabby. They never stop talking and when they have nothing more to say they go on talking for the sheer pleasure of it. When Kehlers get together the air turns into a whirlwind of words and laughter. As the Kehlers themselves like to say: ‘Never bury a Kehler until you’ve made sure his mouth is dead too.’
In August, the Kehlers held a one-day reunion in the Mitchell Arena, near Steinbach. Both physically and symbolically an arena is the proper place for a Kehler clan reunion. In this case the site was fitting for another reason. The new arena in Mitchell happens to be built on what was once the south-east corner of the original Kehler family farm. Local residents waited nervously for this momentous gathering of the clan. Many made plans to be away from home that weekend, hoping that the neighborhood would not have been declared a disaster area when they got back. Some took new comfort in the hope that their brand new arena was sturdy enough to withstand the vocal onslaughts of hundreds of celebrating Kehlers of all ages. Continue reading “A Century in the Life of Steinbach’s Kehler Clan”
Here’s a poem, written by Jacob “Berliner” Kehler – date unknown, for the 100th birthday celebration of Peter Neufeld
Here’s a poem, written by Jacob “Berliner” Kehler – date unknown, for the 100th birthday celebration of Peter Neufeld:
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Ein Gedict zum 100 Jaehrigen Geburts Fest Peter Neufelds Felsenton bei Steinbach Man. Von Jacob Ketler Kehler
Ich will mit mein Wenig, vor die Versammlung treten
Ihr Brueder and Schwestern, laszt singen und beten
Denn heute wirds grad, ein Hundert Jahr,
Als dieser Alter Vater, geboren war. Continue reading “From the Kehler Archives…”
By Al Reimer
I never knew my maternal grandfather Jacob K. Kehler, who died four years before I was born. And yet, I’ve often felt that he knew me, that he has lived inside me all these years, inspiring my love language, firing my bursts of imagination, shaping my temperament and slyly stimulating my fondness for verbal acrobatics and the telling of tall tales.
Why do I make this somewhat bizarre claim? Because the older I get the more strongly I can feel my immediate begetters, my parents and grandparents, wrapping themselves ever more tightly around my own identity–like those Russian (babushka) dolls that fit so snugly inside each other. And the more I think and learn about those begetters, the more intimate that feeling becomes. And the more richly satisfying the process of self-exploration becomes.
Read the rest of this article (in PDF), as published in Preservings, No.14, June, 1999
At the 1979 Berliner Kehler Family Reunion, Mitchell, Manitoba, the following comical Low-German poem about the eleven Kehler siblings was read by the poet Gustav Dueck, husband of Betty Stoesz Kehler. Continue reading “Daut Kehlash Gedicht”
Mr and Mrs Bill Kehler celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at an open house Sunday, October 21, 1979. Approximately 200 relatives, friends and neighbours were present for the short program and luncheon.
Mr and Mrs Bill Kehler celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at an open house Sunday, October 21, 1979. Approximately 200 relatives, friends and neighbours were present for the short program and luncheon.
Steinbach 42nd Annual Pioneer Days kicked off with the parade again this morning. Back in 1974, Randy Kehler, 8, son of Ben & Martha Kehler was the winner in the decorated bicycle competition.
Who doesn’t have a memory from the famous Edgar’s Diner? Today, on the 4th anniversary of his passing, we honour Edgar Stoesz Kehler, whose Berliner personality ignited conversation and laughter, and who loved to serve up a bowl of Borscht, a Husky Burger or a tasty veal cutlet.
Read a previous entry about Edgar’s Diner in Voices of the Prairies, a Condensed Excerpt – Reader’s Digest, 1992 >>
