Obituary of Melvin Koop

Melvin Koop aged 83 years of Steinbach, MB, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2020 peacefully surrounded by his family at Bethesda Regional Health Centre, Steinbach, MB.

Dad was born November 25, 1936.  He was the third oldest of seventeen children.  He married our mother, Mary Fast, on September 12, 1959 in the Kleefeld EMC.  They spent over 60 years together and had five sons.  Howard (Jane), Barry (Traci), Myron (Susan), Conroy (Sheila), Garth (Carly).  Dad pastored churches in Flin Flon, Winnipeg, Steinbach, Abbotsford, Swift Current, Anola, Mennville and Morris.

As a young man Dad work at Schellenberg’s grocery store, in the Virden oil fields, Coldstream Refrigeration and Barkman Concrete (Wpg). 

Dad dedicated his life to Christ at 18 years old on his own after being invited and encouraged to consider Christ by a close friend.  Shortly after, he enrolled at Steinbach Bible School.  Two significant life decisions occurred there: he felt a calling to ministry, and he started dating and eventually married our Mom, Mary Fast.   Their initial plan was to go into foreign missions, however, Dad’s health issues at the time prevented them from traveling overseas.  Instead they went north to Flin Flon to plant the Northern Fellowship Chapel.  There, the two oldest sons were born.

After five years in Flin Flon, Dad and Mom moved to Winnipeg for Dad to further his education at Mennonite Brethren Bible College and pastor the emerging Crestview Fellowship Church.  Here their next two sons were added to the family.  These were busy times for Dad with four boys, attending college, pastoring a church and tarring roofs to supplement his income.  His sense of purpose and passion for the church kept him motivated.

In 1971, Dad accepted the Youth Pastor position at the Steinbach Evangelical Mennonite Church (EMC).  Soon after moving to Steinbach, their fifth son was born.  Dad led a vibrant youth group called Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF).  CYF retreats at Camp Jubilee, Flea Markets, Prison Ministry and Tuesday night Bible Studies built a strong community for the young people.  In addition to pastoring, Dad was involved in the community coaching his sons’ hockey teams and volunteering as a parole officer.

Later, Dad spent five years as the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Regional Rep for World Vision.  Dad loved the opportunity to expand his network of friends and raise funds for, and awareness of, world hunger.   

Dad accepted the Senior Pastor position at the Grace Evangelical MB church in Abbotsford in 1981.  He had a highly effective outreach in the community which brought many new people to faith and discipleship in the church. 

In 1986, the Steinbach EMC invited him back as Associate Pastor.  Dad was enticed by the position, along with the opportunity to be near to family and lifelong friends.  The combination of being rooted in the church and outreach opportunities in the broader community kept Dad engaged in this ministry for thirteen years.

Retirement in 1999 was short-lived.  Dad was drawn to a series of interim pastoral positions to assist churches in transition.  These churches were in Swift Current, Anola, Mennville and Morris.  Mom and Dad made many more friends in each church.

Dad had a passion for reading and was disciplined with his daily devotions, prayer life, scripture memorization and physical exercise.  One of Dad’s great athletic achievements was running the Manitoba Marathon at age 70.

Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018.  As his memory deteriorated, Mom was always by his side ready to help.  Her love, kindness and patience were honoring and respectful toward Dad all his life and especially in his last years.

Dad leaves to mourn his loving wife, Mary, five boys and their spouses, twenty grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, seven brothers, eight sisters and a large extended family.

He was predeceased by his brother John.

The viewing will be held on Monday, January 20, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. followed by a devotional at 7:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

The memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at Steinbach Evangelical Mennonite Church, Steinbach, MB.

Interment to take place at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB., prior to the service.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Melvin Koop may be made to Evangelical Mennonite Conference Missions.

We as a family wish to express our gratitude to the staff at Bethesda Regional Health Centre for caring for Dad in the last month.