Obituary of Edwin Rempel

Edwin Rempel, aged 90 years, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre, Steinbach, MB. He was born on November 1, 1929 in the R.M. of Turtle Mountain.

He is survived by his children: Juli (John) Driedger, Jan Rempel (Steve Grundy), Ed (Carla) Rempel, and Al Rempel.  Grandchildren: Jami (Jason) Neufeld and their children Malia and Avery, Jodi (Jean-Guy) Roy and their children Sophia, Lucas, and Fraser, Joy (Derick) Gilbert and their children Josh and Reid, and Jerilyn (John) Koliaska and their children Taeya, Aliya, Duke and Boswell, Seane Grundy (Lacey Miller) and their son Curtis, Kyle Grundy (Kaloni Banfield), Charmayne Grundy (John Carson) and son Mason, Blake Grundy (Katie Alguire); Katelyn (Jordan) Sisson and their children Aiden, Liam, Hannah and Sadie, Mitch Rempel and his daughter Jaymes.

When Dad was a year old, the family moved to Fork River where he lived with his family until he left home to find work.  Dad grew up with six brothers and one sister.  Times were hard for their family back then, but Dad always spoke positively of the fun he had with his siblings.  They were very much jokesters, and he remembered there was no shortage of laughter in their house.  Several of his brothers really enjoyed sports, and so they were very active in sports.  We understand that Dad was a very good pitcher!  When he finished grade eleven, he had to go to work to help support the family.  He worked chopping wood, then in BC in a paper mill and later as a surveyor first in Lethbridge and later in Duck Bay, Manitoba. 

He married the love of his life on August 29, 1954.  Mom and Dad ended up in Winnipeg shortly after they married, and Dad got a job at Marshall Wells, which ended up taking him to Dauphin where they raised four children. Mom passed away in December of 2006, so a few years later, together with his brother Herb, they rented an apartment in Steinbach.  There they lived until they moved to the Niverville Credit Union manor.  They were known in the town of Niverville as “the walkers” as everyday they would go on a long walk.  One day, there were sightings on highway 52, and we calculated they would have walked for 26 kilometers to get back to the manor!  Ultimately, they were moved to the Heritage Life personal care home in Niverville.

Dad loved to fish and hunt, and we remember that we were always eating wild meat, whether it be duck, moose, elk, or deer.  One year it was moose sandwiches for lunch every single day.  We didn’t necessarily appreciate it as much as we would now.  He also loved to fish, and Dad had a very good partner in this, as Mom was able to fry up the most delicious fish. 

He had a side hobby of collecting and fixing guns of all sorts.  He even joined the Handgunners Club in Dauphin as part of his hobby.  Very much a Conservative, Dad became very active in the party in Dauphin for many years.

Dad had a very charismatic personality and was loved by all who knew him.  He was very much a clown (like some of his brothers), and he maintained that until just a couple of weeks before he passed away.  It was comforting to us when he would turn his hat sideways, or make himself look like a dope, as then we knew he was still happy.  He loved to visit and be with people.  Dad’s favorite times were when he was together with all of his family. 

We are happy for Dad that he is in a better place, but we will miss his happy presence very much.

Due to Covid 19, the private family service will be by invitation only on Friday, October 23, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.