Margaret Gerbrandt Watrous, Saskatchewan Obituary

Margaret Gerbrandt

Margaret Gerbrandt was born to Johann and Anna Klassen on October 28, 1918 on Chortitza Island Ukraine. She emigrated to Canada in 1923 with her parents and 2 sisters. Another sister and 2 brothers were born in Canada. They arrived in Drake in November 1923 and settled there. She took her elementary and high school in Drake. When she was 18 she started clerking in a general store in Drake. Since she was a people person, she enjoyed her work very much. On January 1, 1941 she married Orlin Gerbrandt. They were married for 65 years. During the war, Orlin went to British Columbia and Alberta as a conscientious objector and Margaret joined him in Vancouver where they lived for 2 years. They returned to Drake and took up farming west of Drake where Reg was born. They later moved into town where Kathleen was born. Through all the years of raising her family, Margaret was very busy with different forms of work, such as running the Locker plant together with Orlin, farming, and being involved as they changed occupations. Margaret was never one to take it easy. She gave piano lessons, did a lot of babysitting, played piano in church and was accompianist for many people. As children, Reg and Kathleen remember falling asleep to the sound of their Dad and uncles having quartet practice in the living room with Mom playing the piano. Margaret was very hospitable and enjoyed being with people. Her home was always open and no matter who showed up, there was always enough very good food. When her children were grown, Margaret clerked in the Coop store in Drake and also took in boarders. After retirement, Margaret and Orlin joined the Silver Sages in Drake, spent time in Arizona and Texas and also took a lot of pleasure being involved in the lives of their grandchildren. In return, their grandchildren were always excited when Grandma and Grandpa would arrive. Later, when Margaret was alone, the grandchildren and then the great-grandchildren looked forward to spending time with her. After moving to Saskatoon, Margaret enjoyed her time in Bethany Manor where she renewed relationships with old friends and made new friendships. In 2013, she became ill and had to move to Luther Care Nursing Home where she spent the last years of her life. She appreciated the wonderful care that she received there. Margaret's deep faith in God was very evident in her life. She spoke openly of her relationship to Jesus Christ and her desire was for her children and grandchildren, as well as her extended family, to have that relationship as well. Margaret had very poor eyesight and she had trouble reading, but even in her early ninties she would use a bright lamp and magnifying glass and she read through the whole Bible a number of times. She spent many hours in prayer for her family and later on also for the people who cared for her in the nursing home. She leaves to cherish her memory; son Reg (Collene), granddaughter Heidi (Brandon) Brignall and grandson Tim (Shay); daughter Kathleen (Don) Friesen, granddaughter Andrea (Eric) Bloom, Karen (Paul) Martens, and grandson Dale (Angie) Friesen; great-grandchildren Kassy(Jared), Alex and Tyson Brignall, Izayah Gerbrandt; Jordan, Allison, Parker and Luke Bloom; Jessica, Matthew, Jeremy and Caleb Martens; Beckett, Isabel and Madden Friesen; in-laws Margaret Ewert, Elma Klassen, Ruth Klassen , Linda Bartel, Lorena Bartel, Eunice Stobbe, Jacquie Loewen , Frank and Irma Gerbrandt and nieces, nephews and friends. We will miss our loved one, but we do not mourn as those who have no hope, because we know that He in whom she trusted and in whose presence she now is, has also made it possible for us to one day join her. The Family
October 28, 1918 - April 17, 201610/28/191804/17/2016
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Margaret Gerbrandt was born to Johann and Anna Klassen on October 28, 1918 on Chortitza Island Ukraine. She emigrated to Canada in 1923 with her parents and 2 sisters. Another sister and 2 brothers were born in Canada. They arrived in Drake in November 1923 and settled there. She took her elementary and high school in Drake. When she was 18 she started clerking in a general store in Drake. Since she was a people person, she enjoyed her work very much. On January 1, 1941 she married Orlin Gerbrandt. They were married for 65 years. During the war, Orlin went to British Columbia and Alberta as a conscientious objector and Margaret joined him in Vancouver where they lived for 2 years. They returned to Drake and took up farming west of Drake where Reg was born. They later moved into town where Kathleen was born. Through all the years of raising her family, Margaret was very busy with different forms of work, such as running the Locker plant together with Orlin, farming, and being involved as they changed occupations. Margaret was never one to take it easy. She gave piano lessons, did a lot of babysitting, played piano in church and was accompianist for many people. As children, Reg and Kathleen remember falling asleep to the sound of their Dad and uncles having quartet practice in the living room with Mom playing the piano. Margaret was very hospitable and enjoyed being with people. Her home was always open and no matter who showed up, there was always enough very good food. When her children were grown, Margaret clerked in the Coop store in Drake and also took in boarders. After retirement, Margaret and Orlin joined the Silver Sages in Drake, spent time in Arizona and Texas and also took a lot of pleasure being involved in the lives of their grandchildren. In return, their grandchildren were always excited when Grandma and Grandpa would arrive. Later, when Margaret was alone, the grandchildren and then the great-grandchildren looked forward to spending time with her. After moving to Saskatoon, Margaret enjoyed her time in Bethany Manor where she renewed relationships with old friends and made new friendships. In 2013, she became ill and had to move to Luther Care Nursing Home where she spent the last years of her life. She appreciated the wonderful care that she received there. Margaret's deep faith in God was very evident in her life. She spoke openly of her relationship to Jesus Christ and her desire was for her children and grandchildren, as well as her extended family, to have that relationship as well. Margaret had very poor eyesight and she had trouble reading, but even in her early ninties she would use a bright lamp and magnifying glass and she read through the whole Bible a number of times. She spent many hours in prayer for her family and later on also for the people who cared for her in the nursing home. She leaves to cherish her memory; son Reg (Collene), granddaughter Heidi (Brandon) Brignall and grandson Tim (Shay); daughter Kathleen (Don) Friesen, granddaughter Andrea (Eric) Bloom, Karen (Paul) Martens, and grandson Dale (Angie) Friesen; great-grandchildren Kassy(Jared), Alex and Tyson Brignall, Izayah Gerbrandt; Jordan, Allison, Parker and Luke Bloom; Jessica, Matthew, Jeremy and Caleb Martens; Beckett, Isabel and Madden Friesen; in-laws Margaret Ewert, Elma Klassen, Ruth Klassen , Linda Bartel, Lorena Bartel, Eunice Stobbe, Jacquie Loewen , Frank and Irma Gerbrandt and nieces, nephews and friends. We will miss our loved one, but we do not mourn as those who have no hope, because we know that He in whom she trusted and in whose presence she now is, has also made it possible for us to one day join her. The Family

Events

May
02
Service
Monday, May 02 2016
02:00 PM
North Star Mennonite Church
204 Francis St.
DRAKE, SK S0K 1H0
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