Grace Esther Reimer (nee Walkof)

1921 - 2008 

It is with great sadness but joy that we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Grace Reimer on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at her residence at Tabor Home in Morden, MB.  With family be her side, she was relieved of all her earthly pain to enter her eternal rest.  Mom lived a long and fulfilling life and reached the age of 86 years. 

Grace was born to John R. and Justina (nee Klassen) Walkof on August 27, 1921 in Plum Coulee, MB.  In her teen years, she taught Sunday School and many times was a substitute school teacher for her father.  Hard work was no stranger to her, she was taught how to harrow fields by horse drawn harrows.  Grace’s amazing sewing skills were learned in a 3 year sewing course similar to the 4-H.  Her many years of extreme hard work exerting herself beyond her limits were very evident in all the pain she suffered in the last 30 years of her life.

Although Grace worked hard, she had time to feel the heart throb for a dashing young man who jumped the fence of the field she harrowed earlier.  The romance blossomed and on June 7, 1942, she became the wife and soulmate of Jake R. Reimer in a tent wedding on the Blumstein school yard.  Jake and Grace made their home in Blumstein where they resided until 1962.  Their first born, Larry was born in 1946 followed by a daughter, Sylvia in 1948 and a “Running Water and Electricity Baby”, Myrna in 1955.  Grace became a Jack of all Trades farm wife when Jake was a custom combiner and often needed parts and meals in places unfamiliar to her.  Many time she found “can’t miss it places” in the dark many miles from home.  She was handy at getting Jake out of other pinches also, like the day that he was changing oil on the family car. The jacks fell out and Jake was pinned underneath the car.  Grace’s Samson-like strength was enough to lift the front bumper enough for Larry to replace the jack and for Jake to be able to come to safety. 

In 1957, she spent a month in the hospital with pneumonia and pleurisy.  Needless to say, this was a difficult time for her and the family.  After a trip into the city hospital to drain her lungs, Grace was allowed to come home.  The doctors advised Jake and Grace to spend time in a warmer climate for her lungs to recuperate.  The family packed up and moved to California for a number of months.

On December 7, 1962 disaster struck when the family home in Blumstein was leveled to the ground by fire.  The family then moved to Winkler and after a lot of discussion, the decision was made to make a new home in Morden.

Family life settled down and Grace felt she had the time to become more involved in the church here.  WCG (Women of the Church of God) became a very important part of her life.  Grace became a Stewardship Director for many years.  During this time, she opened up her home on a monthly basis to the women and did what she did best and that was entertaining in style.  Pretty tablecloths in pink, napkins to match and coffee and tea served in her best china.  In her heart, Grace was a woman of Missions; always concerned about the mission support.  For many years, she was in charge of collecting gently used clothes and personally packing and sewing them into a cloth package and sending it to a favorite missionary, Phyllis Newby in Haiti.  Grace did not like attention drawn to herself, her genuine concern for others was always done in a quiet and gentle way.

Jake and Grace spent many winter travelling in the U.S.  Often, she went along with Jake on extended hunting trips and made new friends in that circle who to this day have kept in contact with her.  Many of their vacations involved visiting long lost relatives in the States.  The interest in family spurred her onto doing the family tree and the study of generations past.

After the passing of her soulmate, Jake, Grace lived quietly on her own and concentrated on converting her many years of journaling into her book Footprints in the Sands of Time.  Also, much of her time was spent reading any book that she could get her hands on and she produced poetry for many occasions.  After years of pain and suffering, her declining health made the decision for her to take up residence at the Tabor Home.

She leaves to mourn her passing 2 daughters, Sylvia and Wally Penner of Steinbach, Myrna and Jack Giesbrecht of Winkler; 1 son, Larry and Linda Reimer of Morden; 8 grandchildren will remember her fondly, Mike and Dorinda Penner, Carrie and Roger Charriere, Jody and Rob Carter, Jason Reimer, Wendy Reimer, Cora and Nathan Hoeppner, Nick and Leanne Giesbrecht, Kent Giesbrecht; 11 great grandchildren called her Oma.  She is also survived by 1 brother, John Walkof.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Jake R. Reimer in 1988 and 2 sisters, Erna and Ruth and 1 brother, Paul.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2:00 pm at Morden Church of God with Rev. Mal Wagner officiating.  Interment followed at Chapel Cemetery in Morden.

The family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who had a special place in Grace’s life by all the visits, support and prayers offered for her to make life as manageable as possible.

Donations may be made in Grace’s memory to either the Children of Hope 7111-B Beatty Dr. Mission, BC V2V 6C4 or the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation 304 1 Wesley Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6.

Wiebe Funeral Chapel, Morden in care of arrangements.