View source for Buhler, Anna E. Dyck (1918-2007)

Anna (Annie) Dyck Buhler: mission worker in [[Colombia]] and [[Panama]]; born 19 October 1918 in [[Winkler (Manitoba, Canada)|Winkler]], [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]], [[Canada]] to Jacob Peter Dyck (1890-1977) and Bertha (Bauman) Dyck (1895-1987). She was the second of eight children in the family. Annie spent almost 40 years in [[Colombia]] and [[Panama]] as a teacher and church worker with [[Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services International (Mennonite Brethren Church)|Mennonite Brethren Mission]]. On 31 July 1982, she married Samuel E. Buhler in [[Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada)|Winnipeg]], Manitoba. She died of cancer in [[Saskatoon (Saskatchewan, Canada)|Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan (Canada)|Saskatchewan]], Canada on 16 March 2007.

As a child, Annie Dyck lived with her parents and seven siblings near the town of Winkler, Manitoba, where the family owned land. She attended school in Winkler, completing her elementary and secondary education there. For several years, she also took music lessons, which she later put to use in her work in [[South America]]. 

Annie Dyck became a Christian at a young age and was [[Baptism|baptized]] on 2 August 1935 in a pond near Winkler. Soon, she began to consider getting into mission work after hearing a report from people who had been working in Colombia, South America. In the meantime, she began to help the church in various ways, distributing religious [[Tracts|tracts]] for an [[Evangelism|evangelistic]] mission, teaching [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] and [[Summer Bible School|summer Bible school]], and [[Singing|singing]] at hospitals.  

In 1944, Annie Dyck applied for service with Mennonite Brethren Mission and was accepted to go to South America. On 25 March 1945, she was ordained in Winkler for missionary service before going to [[Hillsboro (Kansas, USA)|Hillsboro]], [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]], [[United States of America|USA]] for further studies. She left for [[Colombia]] via the United States at the end of January 1946 and spent some time in language study in Medillin before leaving at the beginning of October for her assignment in the Choco, a rainforest on the west coast of Colombia.

For much of the next 40 years, Annie Dyck worked in teaching, literature distribution, and [[Bible Study|Bible study]]. She worked in both Colombia and Panama, with a short time of working in the United States and some teaching in Mexico. She taught the Spanish language to other workers, as well as music, history, and other subjects to students of various ages. In addition, she helped with church services, where she used her musical talents. 

Annie Dyck completed several terms of service in South America before she moved back to Manitoba in 1968 to study. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970 and then taught in [[British Columbia (Canada)|British Columbia]] and Manitoba before leaving for [[Panama]] in 1972. She worked with New Tribes Mission in Panama City as a teacher of mathematics and other subjects, but she soon returned to Colombia to teach in Cali, the Choco, and Medillin. She left for her final term in 1980. On 31 July 1982, she married a widower, Samuel E. Buhler (1914-2001), from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After their wedding in Winnipeg, they made their home in Saskatchewan.   

For the next few years, Annie Dyck Buhler and her husband visited family, volunteered in the church, and spent their time helping in a variety of capacities. In 1998, Sam began to experience health problems that eventually made it necessary for him to move to a care home. He died on 9 August 2001 in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan. Annie also became ill, and she died of cancer in Saskatoon on 16 March 2007.

Anna “Annie” Dyck Buhler was a dedicated mission worker who spent her career in helping the people of Colombia, Panama, Mexico, and the United States. Through her versatility and commitment to her work, she was an example for others to follow.

= Bibliography =
Buhler, Annie E. (Dyck).  ''My Story''. Canada: Annie E. (Dyck) Buhler, 2007.

GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 5.00 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2006: #535629.

GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 5.00 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2006: #117251.

GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 5.00 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2006: #465715.

MB Mission. “Vision for Mission.” Web. 15 June 2016. http://www.mbmission.org/news/vision-for-mission/may-2008.

''Missionary Album of Missionaries Serving Under the Board of Foreign Missions, The Mennonite Brethren Conference, Inc.'' Hillsboro, Kan. Board of Foreign Missions of the Conference of Mennonite Brethren Church of North America, 1954.

Obituary. Mennonite Brethren Herald. Web. 15 June 2016.  http://www.mbherald.com/46/07/deaths.en.html.

Obituary. Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Web. 15 June 2016. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestarphoenix/obituary.aspx?n=annie-dyck-buhler&pid=86810931.

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[[Category:Persons]]