Josephine A. Enns

1921 – 2006 

It is with great sadness that we announce the accidental passing of a dear wife, mom and grandma Josie Enns (nee Dyck) near Winkler. She will be deeply missed by her children, son Orville and Anna of Burwalde and their daughters Nicole, Keri and Colleen; son Wesley of Burwalde; daughter Celia and Bernie Baergen of Winnipeg, and their daughters Allison and Amy; and daughter Linda and Gordon Janzen of Winnipeg along with their daughters Christina, Sarah and Maya. She will also be missed by her sisters Katie Dyck (Winkler) and Irene Wallace (Brandon) and her two brothers John and Erika (Winnipeg) and Don and Gloria (Winkler) as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. Josie was predeceased by her parents John P. and Tina (Enns) Dyck, brother Peter and sister Helen Friesen, four sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.

Josie was born in Winkler at the home of her Enns grandparents. She completed Grades 1 – 10 at Burwalde School and took Grade 11 in Winkler. She studied for two years at Winkler Bible School. In 1939, she was baptized in the Dead Horse Creek in the Burwalde School District. Josie and Frank were married in the Winkler Mennonite Brethren Church on December 8, 1946. They celebrated 59 years, 5 months and 5 days of life as a married couple. They joined Grace Mennonite Church in May, 1964.

As the eldest child, Josie worked with her parents on the farm. As a young woman, she worked as a nurse’s aide and dreamed of becoming a nurse. Upon marriage to Frank, they established their home on a farm in Burwalde where she loved to garden and work alongside her husband Frank and their four children. In 1967, Josie and Frank moved to her childhood home, also in Burwalde, where they farmed until 1988. Josie was involved in teaching Sunday School and supporting missionaries from the local Burwalde community. Connections to the community of Burwalde remained important throughout her life. After moving to Winkler, Josie had more time for gardening, reading through her Bible and biographies, playing Sequence, knitting dishcloths to give away, and writing letters to missionaries. Josie could coax stubborn African violets to bloom and would grow houseplants to give away to friends or to the MCC store.  Praying for and keeping in touch with her children and grandchildren was always given priority—she and Frank travelled near and far to be with them in places like Burwalde, Winnipeg, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and even Cyprus. As a mother, Josie provided a loving spiritual role model for her children and grandchildren and her faith in God left us with a strong spiritual foundation.

Funeral service for Frank and Josie was held on Friday, May 19, 2006 at 2:00 pm at Grace Mennonite Church with Pastor Herb Franz and Rev. Bernie Loeppky officiating.  Interment followed at Winkler Cemetery. 

Memorial donations may be made to either of the following charities: MCC Box 1774 Winkler, MB R6W 4B6, Back to the Bible Broadcast Box 10 Winnipeg, MB R3C 2G2, Wycliffe Bible Translators 4316 10^th St. NE Calgary, AB T2E 6K3.

"The children of Frank and Josie would like to express deep appreciation and gratitude for the prayers and many acts of kindness shown to us by our friends, family and church communities in these past days. We thank the staff at Health Sciences and Boundary Trails Health Centre for their compassion extended to Dad and to the whole family, as well as Wiebe Funeral Homes for their support during this difficult time."

Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler in care of arrangements.