William “Bill” P Giesbrecht
1924 - 2014
Early on the beautiful fall morning of October 15, 2014 at Swan Lake Hospital, William P. (Bill) Giesbrecht, aged 90 years, of Winkler, formerly of Carman, MB, died peacefully in his sleep after suffering a stroke and went to his eternal rest.
He was born on April 25, 1924. He was the 5th child of 12 born to Peter W. and Susanna Giesbrecht. He grew up on the farm in Bergfeld and attended the Thames District School. He helped his father on the farm until World War II when he chose alternative service and worked for a farmer near Plumas. On September 19, 1948 he married Agnes Derksen and they lived together for three years with Grandma and Grandpa Derksen in Sperling and then in Carman. During this time, Dad worked with Uncle Bill Derksen cutting and selling cordwood. Mom and Dad bought a ½ acre lot in Carman with a small building which they renovated into a three bedroom house. Dad worked for the railroad, the Highways Department and CCIL. He suffered a major accident while working with the Highways Department. While they lived in Carman, three girls were born; Linda Jane in 1951, Laura Lee in 1955 and Lavina Susan in 1962. Mom and Dad lived in Carman until 1986 when Dad retired from working at the Town Water Treatment Plant. They then moved to Winkler. He volunteered at the MCC Thrift Store from that time until this past year. Mom and Dad enjoyed playing together in an orchestra for many years, bringing music to places like the Boys Correctional Home in Portage, Salem Home, the hospital and Eden Health Centre. They have enjoyed travelling to many places including the Bad Lands in South Dakota, Alaska, Florida and Pennsylvania, several Canadian provinces as well as Belize. Dad had a real sense of humor and enjoyed teasing any and everyone; he also enjoyed working with wood and built many pieces of furniture over the years. After being diagnosed with dementia this spring, he was in and out of the hospital until he was transferred to Prairieview Lodge in Pilot Mound where he spent his last few months.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Agnes, three daughters, eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren: Linda (Alvin) Wiebe; Robin Wiebe, Crystal Huhtala, (Justin and Conner); Charlotte (Kevin) Church; (Levi): Laura (Erwin) Wiebe; Janelle Wiebe, Jeremy (Erin) Wiebe, (Ella, Aidan, Esmay), Joel Wiebe, Lavina (Dennis) Krahn; Mark (Angela) Krahn, (Colin, Chelsea); Aubrey Krahn (Dylan, Bailey).
Funeral service at 2:00 p.m. on Monday October 20, 2014 at Grace Mennonite Church with interment at Winkler Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to either MCC or Back to the Bible Radio Broadcast.
Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler
In care of arrangements,
wiebefuneralhomes.com