Rempel, Henry S. (1882-1979)
Henry S. Rempel: teacher and minister; born 27 November 1882 to Heinrich Peter Rempel (4 June 1855, Paulsheim, Molotschna, South Russia - 3 March 1926, Rural Municipality of Hanover, Manitoba, Canada) and Margaretha (Schlabach) Rempel (1853, Waldheim, Molotschna, South Russia - 10 January 1921, Rural Municipality of Hanover, Manitoba, Canada) in Waldheim, South Russia. He was the fourth of nine children in the family. Henry was married on 9 April 1903 to Maria F. Hiebert (7 July 1883, Rural Municipality of Morris, Manitoba - 8 April 1930, Morris, Manitoba, Canada), daughter of David Hiebert (1853-1903) and Margaretha L. (Friesen) Hiebert (1854-1909). Henry and Maria had five children that survived infancy: Harry, Margaret, Bernhard, Linda, and Peter, who was killed in an accident at the age of fourteen. Maria died on 8 April 1930, and in 1932 Henry married Anna Neufeld (28 January 1893, Waldheim, Molotschna, South Russia - 12 June 1986, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), daughter of Isaak I. Neufeld (1871-1948) and Anna (Koehn) Neufeld (1868-1949) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Henry suffered a stroke from which he partially recovered, but he died on 6 July 1979 in Winnipeg. The funeral took place on 10 July at the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church.
For the three and a half years following his birth, Henry lived in South Russia with his family. In 1886, the family immigrated to Kleefeld, Manitoba, Canada, where Henry’s father became the teacher in the village school where Henry later studied. At the age of 19, Henry was converted and joined the church, and in 1902, he married Maria Hiebert, daughter of David and Margaretha Hiebert of Morris, Manitoba. Henry and Maria first lived in Watrous, Saskatchewan, but they soon moved to Gretna, Manitoba, where Henry completed his education before working as a teacher for the next ten years. In 1912, he was ordained in the local Evangelical Mennonite Brethren church and began to assist missionaries C. N. Hiebert and his wife with their work. Maria died in 1930, and two years later, Henry married Anna Neufeld in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Together with his new wife, Rempel continued to serve in mission work, first in Winnipeg for six years and then with the Saskatoon City Mission in Saskatchewan. Henry also served as an itinerant preacher (Reiseprediger), visiting churches in various parts of Canada. He was active in the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, in city missions, and in leading his congregation during the 34 years he and his wife lived in Saskatoon. During this time, Henry began a ministry of visiting the sick in hospital, a practice he continued after he retired in 1969 and moved to Steinbach, Manitoba. He also continued to preach at various locations, including the Resthaven seniors' home in Steinbach, where he gave a series of messages in 1973. In 1974, soon after the Donwood Manor seniors' home opened up in Winnipeg, Henry and Anna moved there. Even after suffering a slight stroke which affected his ability to walk, Henry continued to visit people and to write letters to help strengthen and cheer others. His health worsened and he died on 6 July 1979 at age 97 in Winnipeg. The funeral was held on 10 July at the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church.
Henry S. Rempel was a dedicated teacher and minister who contributed greatly to the work of city missions, the Mennonite Brethren Conference, and his local church. Through his commitment to acting out his faith, he was an example for his family and the people around him to follow.
Bibliography
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. “Rempel, Henry S.” Web. 21 April 2010. http://www.mbconf.ca/home/products_and_services/resources/published_genealogies/personal_papers/rempel_henry_s/.
GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 6.02 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2010: #252488.
Mennonite Brethren Herald (10 August 1979): 34; (15 August 1986): 30.
Die Mennonitische Rundschau (29 April 1979): 26; (6 August 1986): 24.
| Author(s) | Susan Huebert |
|---|---|
| Date Published | April 2010 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Huebert, Susan. "Rempel, Henry S. (1882-1979)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. April 2010. Web. 25 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rempel,_Henry_S._(1882-1979)&oldid=125499.
APA style
Huebert, Susan. (April 2010). Rempel, Henry S. (1882-1979). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rempel,_Henry_S._(1882-1979)&oldid=125499.
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