Difference between revisions of "Balzer, John (1936-2024)"
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[[File:Balzer,_John_and_Bertha.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|''John and Bertha Balzer.<br> Source: Mennonite Historical Society of BC S21.1.3-1992.001.098'']] | [[File:Balzer,_John_and_Bertha.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|''John and Bertha Balzer.<br> Source: Mennonite Historical Society of BC S21.1.3-1992.001.098'']] | ||
| − | John Balzer: minister and church planter; born on 21 July 1936, in Eyebrow, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Daniel Balzer (24 July 1887, Schardau, Molotschna, South Russia – 9 May 1962, Vancouver, British Columbia [BC], Canada) and Sarah (Toews) Balzer (5 October 1896, Friedensruh, Molotschna – 3 March 1971, Abbotsford, BC). He was the second youngest of eight children (an older brother was Jake Balzer). John married Bertha Loewen (23 September 1930, Fairholme, Saskatchewan – 18 May 2003, Abbotsford, BC), daughter of David P. Loewen (1885-1955) and Tina (Epp) Loewen (1889-1967) on 5 October 1962 in Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church. John and Bertha had three children: Glenn, Sharon, and Marilyn. John married for the second time on 28 February 2004 to Isabelle Cooper-Newall (16 June 1939, Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan - 11 February 2022, British Columbia). John died on 14 March 2024 in Abbotsford, BC at the age of 87, and was buried in Abbotsford, BC. | + | John Balzer: minister and church planter; born on 21 July 1936, in Eyebrow, [[Saskatchewan (Canada)|Saskatchewan]], Canada, to Daniel Balzer (24 July 1887, Schardau, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna]], South Russia – 9 May 1962, [[Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada)|Vancouver]], British Columbia [BC], Canada) and Sarah (Toews) Balzer (5 October 1896, Friedensruh, Molotschna – 3 March 1971, [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]], BC). He was the second youngest of eight children (an older brother was [[Balzer, Jake (1929-2019)|Jake Balzer]]). John married Bertha Loewen (23 September 1930, Fairholme, Saskatchewan – 18 May 2003, Abbotsford, BC), daughter of David P. Loewen (1885-1955) and Tina (Epp) Loewen (1889-1967) on 5 October 1962 in [[Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church]]. John and Bertha had three children: Glenn, Sharon, and Marilyn. John married for the second time on 28 February 2004 to Isabelle Cooper-Newall (16 June 1939, Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan - 11 February 2022, British Columbia). John died on 14 March 2024 in Abbotsford, BC at the age of 87, and was buried in Abbotsford, BC. |
| − | A few years after John’s birth in Eyebrow, the family relocated to Vauxhall, Alberta. After attending Coaldale Bible School, John and some siblings moved to British Columbia for work. It was during this time that he met Bertha Loewen who was in nurses training. After three long years of courtship while John impatiently waited for Bertha to finish her training, they married in 1962. | + | A few years after John’s birth in Eyebrow, the family relocated to [[Vauxhall (Alberta, Canada)|Vauxhall]], Alberta. After attending [[Coaldale Bible School (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Coaldale Bible School]], John and some siblings moved to [[British Columbia (Canada)|British Columbia]] for work. It was during this time that he met Bertha Loewen who was in nurses training. After three long years of courtship while John impatiently waited for Bertha to finish her training, they married in 1962. |
| − | During the 1960s Mennonite Brethren Mission in British Columbia (later known as the BC MB Board of Church Extension) was looking for young couples to serve in church plants and young Mennonite Brethren congregations, particularly in more remote areas of the province, and John and Bertha felt called to serve in this capacity. John served as pastor and in some cases church planter in six congregations, mostly in British Columbia, including: Ocean Falls Gospel Fellowship (1964-1967), Terrace Mennonite Brethren Church (1968-1972), Cariboo Bethel Church in Williams Lake (1973-1984), Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church (1985-1987), Glacierview Christian Fellowship in Courtney (1988-1990), where he was the first pastor, and Armstrong Bible Chapel (1991-1997). | + | During the 1960s [[Church Planting British Columbia (British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches)|Mennonite Brethren Mission in British Columbia]] (later known as the BC MB Board of Church Extension) was looking for young couples to serve in church plants and young [[Mennonite Brethren Church|Mennonite Brethren]] congregations, particularly in more remote areas of the province, and John and Bertha felt called to serve in this capacity. John served as pastor and in some cases church planter in six congregations, mostly in British Columbia, including: [[Ocean Falls Gospel Fellowship (Ocean Falls, British Columbia, Canada)|Ocean Falls Gospel Fellowship]] (1964-1967), [[Terrace Gospel Chapel (Terrace, British Columbia, Canada)|Terrace Mennonite Brethren Church]] (1968-1972), [[Cariboo Bethel Church (Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada)|Cariboo Bethel Church]] in Williams Lake (1973-1984), [[Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church (Elm Creek, Manitoba, Canada)|Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church]] (1985-1987), [[Glacierview Christian Fellowship (Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada)|Glacierview Christian Fellowship]] in Courtney (1988-1990), where he was the first pastor, and [[Armstrong Bible Chapel (Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada)|Armstrong Bible Chapel]] (1991-1997). |
John’s ability to make everyone feel loved and cared for drew people in. His voice, presence, authenticity, humor, and laughter were contagious. Through everything John had a passion for people, particularly leading people to a deeper walk with Jesus. | John’s ability to make everyone feel loved and cared for drew people in. His voice, presence, authenticity, humor, and laughter were contagious. Through everything John had a passion for people, particularly leading people to a deeper walk with Jesus. | ||
Revision as of 00:17, 1 January 2026
John Balzer: minister and church planter; born on 21 July 1936, in Eyebrow, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Daniel Balzer (24 July 1887, Schardau, Molotschna, South Russia – 9 May 1962, Vancouver, British Columbia [BC], Canada) and Sarah (Toews) Balzer (5 October 1896, Friedensruh, Molotschna – 3 March 1971, Abbotsford, BC). He was the second youngest of eight children (an older brother was Jake Balzer). John married Bertha Loewen (23 September 1930, Fairholme, Saskatchewan – 18 May 2003, Abbotsford, BC), daughter of David P. Loewen (1885-1955) and Tina (Epp) Loewen (1889-1967) on 5 October 1962 in Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church. John and Bertha had three children: Glenn, Sharon, and Marilyn. John married for the second time on 28 February 2004 to Isabelle Cooper-Newall (16 June 1939, Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan - 11 February 2022, British Columbia). John died on 14 March 2024 in Abbotsford, BC at the age of 87, and was buried in Abbotsford, BC.
A few years after John’s birth in Eyebrow, the family relocated to Vauxhall, Alberta. After attending Coaldale Bible School, John and some siblings moved to British Columbia for work. It was during this time that he met Bertha Loewen who was in nurses training. After three long years of courtship while John impatiently waited for Bertha to finish her training, they married in 1962.
During the 1960s Mennonite Brethren Mission in British Columbia (later known as the BC MB Board of Church Extension) was looking for young couples to serve in church plants and young Mennonite Brethren congregations, particularly in more remote areas of the province, and John and Bertha felt called to serve in this capacity. John served as pastor and in some cases church planter in six congregations, mostly in British Columbia, including: Ocean Falls Gospel Fellowship (1964-1967), Terrace Mennonite Brethren Church (1968-1972), Cariboo Bethel Church in Williams Lake (1973-1984), Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church (1985-1987), Glacierview Christian Fellowship in Courtney (1988-1990), where he was the first pastor, and Armstrong Bible Chapel (1991-1997).
John’s ability to make everyone feel loved and cared for drew people in. His voice, presence, authenticity, humor, and laughter were contagious. Through everything John had a passion for people, particularly leading people to a deeper walk with Jesus.
| Author(s) | Richard D. Thiessen |
|---|---|
| Date Published | December 2025 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Thiessen, Richard D.. "Balzer, John (1936-2024)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2025. Web. 2 Feb 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Balzer,_John_(1936-2024)&oldid=181390.
APA style
Thiessen, Richard D.. (December 2025). Balzer, John (1936-2024). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 2 February 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Balzer,_John_(1936-2024)&oldid=181390.
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