Widow Upset After WWII Vet’s Ashes Stolen from Home

Clayton County, Georgia – Here’s an unfortunate situation regarding Berliner Mary Kehler Daniel, courtesy of WSB-TV in Atlanta:

Mary Kehler Daniel says thieves stole her late husband's ashes
Mary Kehler Daniel says thieves stole her late husband’s ashes

The widow of a World War II Veteran says thieves broke two doors and ransacked her Forsest Park home.

Mary Kehler Daniel told Channel 2’s Tom Regan the thieves took money, jewelry and the cremated remains of her late husband Dewey, a World War II veteran. Continue reading “Widow Upset After WWII Vet’s Ashes Stolen from Home”

Gustav B. Dueck (1924-2014)

Gustav B. Dueck (1924-2014)
Gustav B. Dueck (1924-2014)

On Thursday, October 9, 2014, peacefully and with great courage Gustav gained freedom from his battle with cancer at the age of 89, at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach. He was born on December 23, 1924, in the RM of Hanover to Peter F. and Aganetha Dueck as the 4th eldest of ten children. He was predeceased by his parents, three brothers, three sisters, and one grandson.

Remaining to cherish Gustav’s memory are his loving wife and soul mate of 63 years, Betty (nee Kehler), two sisters, Anne and Mary (Bill Toews), and one brother, Henry (Dorothy), his children Deborah and Brian Schwark, Theresa and Bill Dyck, Lucille and Bob Rempel, Conrad and Kristine Dueck, his grandchildren, Cory Dyck, Nathan and Sara Dyck with Jagger and Sebastian, Garreth and Giancarla Rempel with Jackson and Charlotte, Jenessa Robinson with Isaiah, Jahel, and Darnell, Dana and Jon Warkentin, Ava Dueck and Nikola Dueck. Continue reading “Gustav B. Dueck (1924-2014)”

Jake’s Husky

A longtime Kehler business in Steinbach will soon be demolished. Jake’s Husky, on Highway 12N at the Loewen Boulevard corner will cease to exist, after Husky Oil made a final decision to close down operations of the 60 year old business

Jake's Husky Ltd.
Jake’s Husky Ltd.

A longtime Kehler business in Steinbach will soon be demolished. Jake’s Husky, on Highway 12N at the Loewen Boulevard corner will cease to exist, after Husky Oil made a final decision to close down operations of the 60 year old business. Jake’s Husky Service was started in 1955 by Jacob Stoesz Kehler, and has been a family owned business ever since. Many Berliner Kehlers and Steinbach area patrons alike will recall fueling up at the corner location. While the business was built on auto repairs, it was a busy gas bar with over 100,000 litres of gas sold in a month, in its’ prime. Continue reading “Jake’s Husky”

Taunte Marie

Maria S Kehler
Maria S Kehler

Although I am not much of an educated historian, it appears to me that today’s Berliner Kehler family does not have a great deal of information about Maria S Kehler (Taunte Marie).  Perhaps the greatest challenge lies in the fact that she died at an early age of 23, in childbirth of her twins, Jacob and Heinrich on February 21, 1909. Maria’s only daughter Anna Ethel Kehler Penner was one and a half years old upon her passing, and Tante Marie’s husband Abram (Abraham) Henry Penner remarried but passed away 10 years later, from Typhoid Fever on November 19, 1920 in Medicine Hat, AB. Continue reading “Taunte Marie”

Upholding the old, Embracing the new!

The Life of PJB Reimer, Teacher, Minister, and Mennonite Historian.

The Life of PJB Reimer, Teacher, Minister, and Mennonite Historian (2014)
The Life of PJB Reimer, Teacher, Minister, and Mennonite Historian (2014)

A fascinating look at the personal and public life of PJB Reimer, Teacher, Minister, and Mennonite Historian.  As the son of one of the original 18 Steinbach pioneering families, PJB Reimer became a pioneer, helping the Mennonites of southern Manitoba adapt their lives to a rapidly changing world, while always honouring the past.

The Life of PJB Reimer book is hot off the press! You may find the book in the following book stores:

Derksen Printers 
Hull’s Family Bookstore 
McNally Robinson
Mennonite Heritage Village

The book can also be ordered online, at McNallyRobinson.com.

Call Syd Reimer, 204-254-6015 or Contact Us to arrange for shipping. Continue reading “Upholding the old, Embracing the new!”

Walter Nelson Griffith (1940-2014)

Walter Nelson Griffith (1940-2014)
Walter Nelson Griffith (1940-2014)

It is with great sorrow that we announce on Friday, May 30th, 2014, at the age of 74, Walter slipped away peacefully into his Saviour’s arms, with family by his side.

Walter was born in Battleford, Sask. and grew up in Vancouver, B.C. He had a successful, 42 year career working in retail as a manager and district manager for Kresge’s, Kmart and later as a District Manager for Saan Stores. Continue reading “Walter Nelson Griffith (1940-2014)”

Old St. Marys School Being Transformed Into Luxury Condos

 

Ray Doerksen
Ray Doerksen

Sean Irvine, of CTV News London, speaks to Ray Doerksen, one of the owners of the old St. Mary’s Ontario School. The former Central School is becoming a high-end condominium, and could set an example for repurposing other schools. Watch the video clip here.

 

Ray Doerksen, lives in the Town of St. Marys, Ontario. He is the son of Peter & Rose Doerksen, Winnipeg, MB and is the grandson of Violet Doerksen, Steinbach, MB.

Ich bin ein Berliner!

Recently in watching their latest movie, Muppets Most Wanted, I chuckled as I heard the line, “Ich bin ein Berliner”. Who’s line is this anyway? The Muppets,  President John F Kennedy, or Jacob Kehler? It prompted a deeper thought, what does it really mean to be a Berliner (Kehler)? Continue reading “Ich bin ein Berliner!”