Jacob and Elizabeth Kehler

A Century in the Life of Steinbach’s Kehler Clan

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.’

Susan Kehler Wieler and Syd Reimer — Aunt Susan takes the mike from Syd Reimer at the Kehler clan gathering in Mitchell

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”

From the Kehler Archives…

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:

* * * * *

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…”

Canada Day!

Today, July 1, 2011 Canada celebrates it’s 144th year since Confederation. While Canada Day celebrates the events that occurred on July 1, 1867, when the British North America (BNA) Act created the Canadian federal government, the Kehler Clan can celebrate this day for another reason.

Today, July 1, 2011 Canada celebrates it’s 144th year since Confederation. While Canada Day celebrates the events that occurred on this day in 1867, when the British North America (BNA) Act created the Canadian federal government, the Kehler Clan celebrates for another reason.

Continue reading “Canada Day!”

Ebenfeld, Manitoba

As the fourth, fifth and sixth generations of Berliner Kehlers are making their debut on this earth, there is the challenge of raising these kids to not only respect and honor Berliner Kehler and the early pioneers, but to also educate them. To help them understand where they came from, and to give them a glimpse of the challenges and hardships Berliner Kehler and his family faced. Today, we have incredible hindsight. To quote Al Reimer – “Hindsight is never blindsight”. Continue reading “Ebenfeld, Manitoba”

Berliner Kehler List of Descendants

We are very grateful to the large number of Kehler cousins, and there are many of you, who have stepped up to the plate and helped this process along!

Today, we want to recognize:

Neil House – for sending in updates to the Maria Schultz Kehler list
Martha Kehler – for sending in updates to the David Schultz Kehler list

The most current list of descendants can be downloaded here. If you spot any errors or omissions, please send us the details and we can get a more accurate list. Contact the Webmaster with any questions or updates.

Hochfeld CMC Heritage Cemetery

The Hochfeld CMC Heritage Cemetery is the final resting place for both Jacob “Berliner” and Elizabeth Kehler. Located in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, the Hochfeld CMC Heritage Cemetery is maintained by volunteers.

Continue reading “Hochfeld CMC Heritage Cemetery”

Volunteers Needed – Ancestors of the Kehler Clan

Volunteers are required, perhaps you would find this task amusing as well. Updates are required to the list, and we would be so grateful if there would be at least one member of each line, that would take on this task. Start by downloading this list (PDF format) of descendants here. Send us the changes and we can get a more accurate listing. Contact the Webmaster with any questions or updates.

The Berliner Kehler Clan Released

The Berliner Kehler Clan chronicles the lives of Jacob “Berliner” and Elizabeth Kehler and their eleven children, a pioneering Mennonite family in Ebenfeld, near Steinbach, Manitoba.

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.’ Continue reading “The Berliner Kehler Clan Released”

A Personal Memory: Elisabeth Schultz Kehler (1866-1943)

Elisabeth Schultz Kehler, with granddaughter Louise Kehler Reimer Olsen

by Al Reimer

Introduction.

The movements of history, as lived by human beings, are not neatly divided into hundred-year calendar segments called centuries, but run in uncontrolled waves like the sea, lapping at and overlapping each other. The Mennonite generation of my Grandma Kehler was in all essentials a nineteenth-century generation even though she and others like her lived well into the twentieth century.

Mennonite women of her generation lived utterly private domestic lives for the most part, spoke only Plautdietsch but also understood primitive church German, were schooled to suffer in silence, were endlessly resourceful in rearing their large families, including the inculcation of moral, ethical and spiritual values, and were unquestioningly devoted to their church and faith. They did not vote, were hardly aware that government existed, read only the German Bible and perhaps the Steinbach Post and had no direct contact with the “English” world outside the narrow confines of village, farm and community. Continue reading “A Personal Memory: Elisabeth Schultz Kehler (1866-1943)”

Katharina Wieler Kehler Stoesz (1893-1989)

Katharina Stoesz was born May 27, 1893 at Chortitz (Randolph), Manitoba. Her parents were Henry P and Helen Wieler.

She passed away Tuesday, August 1, at 6:45 pm at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Steinbach. She reached the age of 96 years, two months and 5 days.

She was baptized in the Chortitzer Church where she stayed a member with a very strong faith.

November 2, 1914 she was married to George S Kehler by the Rev. Johann Schroeder of Ebenfeld. Continue reading “Katharina Wieler Kehler Stoesz (1893-1989)”