Growing Up and Down in Steinbach

When Del Plett suggested I talk about growing up in Steinbach, I thought it would be an easy and enjoyable talk to prepare. With so many memories and materials to draw on, however, it wasn’t easy to decided what to include and what to leave out. Del had one other suggestion. “We want the Kehler side of your personality”, he said, “not the Reimer side.” I knew what he meant, of course. He wanted me to be lively and funny like my eight Kehler uncles, tell outrageous stories (Schnetteriete) and get you all rolling in the aisles.

Al Reimer
Al Reimer

By Al Reimer

When Del Plett suggested I talk about growing up in Steinbach, I thought it would be an easy and enjoyable talk to prepare. With so many memories and materials to draw on, however, it wasn’t easy to decided what to include and what to leave out. Del had one other suggestion. “We want the Kehler side of your personality”, he said, “not the Reimer side.” I knew what he meant, of course. He wanted me to be lively and funny like my eight Kehler uncles, tell outrageous stories (Schnetteriete) and get you all rolling in the aisles.

The trouble is I’m not as funny as my Kehler uncles were (maybe there’s too much sober Reimer in me) and, also, they told their hilarious stories in private and opp Plautdietsch. So far as I know, none of them ever made a public speech, while I’m addressing a large, sophisticated audience and have to do it in English, which for a Mennonite of my generation is not nearly as good a language to be funny in as Low German is.

Read the rest of this article (in PDF), as published in Preservings, No.21, December 2002 

Gerhard Hiebert Kehler (1921-2002)

Suddenly on Saturday, December 14, 2002 at the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, George went to be with the Lord at the age of 81 years. He was predeceased by his much-beloved wife of 50 wonderful years Elisabeth (Betty) who passed away in 1997. Continue reading “Gerhard Hiebert Kehler (1921-2002)”

Lila Merle Staples Kehler (1922-2002)

After a lengthy illness and gallant fight, Lila passed away July 26, 2002, surrounded by her loving family. Lila is survived by her husband Ben Kehler; sisters, Hattie (Bill) Mills of Winnipeg, MB, Rita Larocque of Fisher Branch, MB, Thelma Olson of Winnipeg, MB, Violet Mills of Wainwright, AB; sisters-in-law, Mary Daniel of Atlanta, GA, Kelly Larson of Calgary, AB; brothers-in-law, George Kehler of Steinbach, MB, Ernie (Eva) Kehler of Winnipeg, MB, Dave Kehler of Winnipeg, MB; numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. Continue reading “Lila Merle Staples Kehler (1922-2002)”

Helene Beischer Kehler (1921-2002)

Helene Beischer Kehler
Helene Beischer Kehler

On February 28, 2002, Helene Beischer Kehler left us to be with her Lord and Saviour and her beloved husband Henry, who predeceased her in 1980. Our mother was born and raised on a small farm in the Russell, MB, area. While working at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, she met and married the man she was devoted to for 33 years. Northern Manitoba was home for mom and dad as they raised their children on Manitoba Hydro projects and later settled in Steinbach in their retirement years. Mom enjoyed playing softball and was a pitcher for the nurses team called the “Panhandlers.” Continue reading “Helene Beischer Kehler (1921-2002)”