Goerzen, Henry David (1928-2019)
Henry David Goerzen: church leader, conference leader, and amateur archivist; born 28 October 1928 near Crossfield, Alberta, Canada, the fourth of ten children of David Peter Goerzen (21 January 1894, Karpovka, Memrik, South Russia – 17 November 1975, Calgary, Alberta) and Suzanna (Wiens) Goerzen (5 October 1899, Peterhof, Russia – 8 December 1992, Calgary, Alberta). Henry married Erna Warkentin, daughter of Herman Warkentin (1888-1952) and Katharine (Neufeld) Warkentin (1896-1984) on 2 November 1952 in Munson, Alberta. Together they had six children: Martin (died young), Irene, Eric, Juanita, Erna, and Albert. Henry died 11 January 2019 in Didsbury, Alberta.
Henry grew up on the family farm in the Rosebud valley and enjoyed roaming the hills, appreciating and drawing numerous sketches of the beauty of nature. He attended the local public school and completed grade nine, but was then needed on the farm after his older brother, David, was called to serve as a wartime Conscientious Objector (CO). He continued his studies at the Menno Bible Institute (MBI), located on the grounds of the Bergthal Mennonite Church in Disbury, Alberta, and was baptized in that church on 25 May 1947.
With a basic education, farm experience, and $20 in his pocket, Henry hitchhiked to Drumheller, Alberta to meet Erna Warkentin, who he had met at MBI. They were married in the Warkentin family home in Munson, Alberta. Henry worked briefly as a coal miner and trucker before returning to Carstairs to settle into farming. After running a mixed farm for many years, he turned it over to his son Eric and purchased a smaller cattle-raising farm west of Didsbury. He fully retired from farming in 2006 when he and Erna moved into Didsbury where they pursued heritage, family, and church interests as well as Henry’s artwork.
In the Bergthal Mennonite Church Henry served as Sunday school superintendent, church secretary, and church chair. He was also secretary for six years, and then chairperson for six more years, of the Conference of Mennonites in Alberta (later Mennonite Church Alberta). Erna was very active in congregational and provincial Women in Missions organizations. Both worked on the 50th anniversary history of the Bergthal Mennonite Church and wrote short history papers, including Henry’s published history of the Namaka Mennonite Church. They helped organize the first Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Relief Sale in Didsbury. Henry also served on the board of Rosthern Junior College and was involved in local community affairs.
In those positions Goerzen collected conference records, historical papers, and was named conference archivist. He secured the records of Menno Bible Institute and the Swift Current Bible Institute when they closed. He stored these records in his basement, and later in a steel grain bin on the farm. Henry and Erna also collected stories, interviewed and transcribed recollections of old-timers, and translated German historical papers. Henry was fascinated by the work and witness of conscientious objectors. He helped organize and participated in CO reunions and contacted and interviewed most Alberta COs. Original drafts, correspondence, and carefully rewritten copies of these interviews were donated to the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta archives, as were other textual records and photographs comprising the Henry D. Goerzen and Erna Goerzen fonds.
Henry was a founding member of the Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan and Alberta, created in 1974. When the two-province structure proved difficult, he relentlessly promoted creation, in 1986, of the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta (MHSA). He served as its first chairperson from 1986 to 1999 and as vice-chair until 2003, and strongly supported the establishment of the MHSA archives and library in a rented space in Calgary. He also designed the logo of the MHSA. In recognition of his contributions in the preservation and writing of Alberta Mennonite history, Henry received the Award of Excellence of the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada in 2018.
Henry, with Erna’s support and active participation, left a legacy of service to his family, the Bergthal Mennonite Church, the Didsbury community, and the MHSA.
Bibliography
Harder, Katie. "MHSA Tribute - Henry David Goerzen." The MHSA Chronicle (March 2019). https://mennonitehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/Chronicle-No.-1-March-2019.pdf.
Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta. "Goerzen, Henry David." 21 January 2019. https://mennonitehistory.org/goerzen-henry-david/.
Neufeldt, Dave. "MHSC Award of Excellence - Nomination." Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter. (March 2018). https://mennonitehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/Newsletter-No.-1-March-2018-1.pdf.
| Author(s) | Bill Franz |
|---|---|
| Ted Regehr | |
| Date Published | December 2023 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Franz, Bill and Ted Regehr. "Goerzen, Henry David (1928-2019)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2023. Web. 27 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Goerzen,_Henry_David_(1928-2019)&oldid=178044.
APA style
Franz, Bill and Ted Regehr. (December 2023). Goerzen, Henry David (1928-2019). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 27 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Goerzen,_Henry_David_(1928-2019)&oldid=178044.
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