Aron (Friesen) Plett was born on April 6, 1922 on the home farm near Kleefeld, Manitoba. (the farm site was located at the current site of a dairy farm on the Northwest corner at the intersection of Hwy 52 and the New Bothwell Road) At approximately 6 years of age, Dad, together with his family, followed his grandparents to Satanta, Kansas. Dad received his education up to Grade 8 at Busyhill School approximately 10 miles north of the town of Satanta. Dad grew up on the plains of Southwest Kansas until his late teens, when, due to the dust storms of the “dirty thirties”, he, and his immediate family moved back to Manitoba. Dad was baptized upon confession of his faith, in the Kleefeld Evangelical Mennonite Church (at that time known as the “Kleine Gemeinde” church). The memory of hot Kansas summers spent herding cattle and working the fields on the wide tree-less plains, diminished Dad’s zeal for farming. However; Dad loved to work in the lumber and pulpwood industry. In 1946, Dad, together with his brother Pete and Uncle Jake, traveled to Vancouver Island to work in the mountain forests of the west coast tall timber country. This experience held the fondest of memories for Dad throughout his life. In 1987, Dad and Mom had the opportunity to return to Vancouver Island on a visit. He spent an entire day at the Logging Museum at Duncan, B.C. recollecting one of the highlights of his life. Another fond memory for Dad was a trip, he and a friend made to the top of Pike’s Peak Mountain in Colorado, driving their Model A Ford car. During his early twenties, summers and autumns generally saw Dad returning south to Kansas to join the harvest crews on their migration northward. On September 12, 1948, Dad married our Mom, Helen Reimer of Satanta, Kansas. Together, they started a home where seven children joined them in time. They spent their first four years in the Blumenort area with the winters being spent in the logging camps with Plett & Company, Penner’s and other forestry operators. In the spring of 1952 the pioneer spirit took Dad and his family to the Riverton area where they operated a mixed farm for 44 years. While life had many challenges for Dad and Mom and our family, God was faithful. God’s love and faithfulness saw us through many difficult times. God’s goodness continues for each of us children. Dad’s love for forestry related work continued in Riverton. Together with his 420 John Deere cat, he spent most winters cutting and skidding logs and pulpwood. This income supplemented the farming operation. With his 420 cat, Dad also cleared many acres of farmland for numerous farmers in the Riverton area. Using lumber from his logging business, Dad custom built three elaborate summer cottages at Beaver Creek. He was proud of these cottages. For us boys, this was also a highlight because it gave us an abundance of swimming time at the lake after the day’s work was done. Sometimes, with enough pestering, we got in a few extra swim times during the day! Dad also enjoyed welding and mechanical work. It seemed that he could fix almost anything from cars and trucks and tractors, including his 420 John Deere, to fixing leaking pots and pans. One of the leading garage operators in Riverton once gave Dad the finest of compliments when the garageman told a neighbor that if his garage didn’t have the necessary tools to fix something, then go see Aron. No doubt Aron would have the tools to get the job done! Dad kept a great assortment of material on his farm. Nothing was garbage to him. He practiced “recycling” long before it came into vogue as we know it today! He loved to tinker in his shop! He was also somewhat inventive. Some of his creations include a wood splitter, toy box on wheels, a drive pulley for his saw mill, flower planters, aluminum extensions for his tree trimmer, and multiple devices for use in the shop. Mom and Dad sold their farm to Ed & Helen Harms in 1996 and moved to Kleefeld. In 1997, due to declining health, Dad moved from Kleefeld to Chalet Malouin in St. Malo where he received excellent care. However, he greatly missed our Mom. In January 1999, Mom joined Dad in St. Malo. Their togetherness was short lived. Mom suffered a heart attack and passed away in February of 1999. Dad very much wanted to move to Steinbach to live among his own people who shared his faith and language. In November 1999, Dad moved from St. Malo to the Bethesda Personal Care Home in Steinbach. This proved to be a wonderful move for Dad. The level of care was just what Dad needed, as regrettably, his health was deteriorating. It became evident that Dad had cancer, which, coupled with his weak heart, seemed to hasten the end. Dad did not complain much. However, in the last week, the pain was clearly increasingly difficult for him to bear. The nurses moved Dad into a recliner so he could be close to other people in the common area on his floor. This seemed to help. However, the pain of his cancer continued to progress. On one occasion he audibly called upon his God to help him in his hour of need. What a blessing to have a personal relationship with God and to be able to call on Him; especially during a time like this. Dad very much appreciated company; especially on his good days. May God reward all of you who went out of your way to go see him. On the afternoon of July 5, the Lord called our Dad “home” to be with Him in Glory and to join our Mom whom Dad was longing to see. Together, they are now in Heaven to enjoy all of eternity. Dad is predeceased by his wife Helen (February 1999) ; two grandsons; his parents and brother and sisters. Dad is survived by his seven children; Virginia (and Jim) Dyck of Thompson, Manitoba ; Ron (and Judy) Plett of Lloydminster, Alberta ; Wes (and Adina) Plett of Hinton, Alberta ; Norm (and Clarise) Plett of Linden, Alberta ; Ruby (and Bill) Cassell of Winnipeg, Manitoba ; Walter (and Laura) Plett of St. Paul, Alberta and Marlene Plett of Winnipeg, Manitoba ; 13 Grandchildren and one Great Grandchild. On this day we, as your family, pause to say Good-Bye and say Thank You for the hard work you put in on our behalf and to Thank you for faithfully praying for us. So often, when traveling home from our Sugar Creek farm, in our 1942 Chev 3-Ton truck, at the end of a long day’s work, you’d sing the song….” Life’s evening sun, is sinking low A few more days , and I must go…” Your time of rest from this world’s work has now come. We’ll see you in the “morning” when we join you and Mom in Glory. The Family The funeral service for Aron F. Plett was held on Monday, July 10th, 2000 at 10:30 a.m. at Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Church with Rev. Harvey Plett officiating. Interment followed in Blumenort EMC Cemetery.