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Mary Goertzen (nee Koop)
1926 - 2021
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John and Luella Wiebe posted a condolence
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Deepest sympathy to the family on your loss. We shared with you via livestream. May you feel Gods love as you cherish your memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. John and Luella Wiebe
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Sheila Friesen uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
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We are so privileged to have known Grandma Mary. She captured our attentions with her unique lifestyle full of courage, innovation, desire for God, intriguing skills and her stories, of which here is a few:
When Grandma first went out with New Tribes she was with a girl from the United States. Her friend was well educated, raised by her grandparents because her mother had passed away when she was very young. She lacked nothing. She had a very good grasp of the Japanese language; way better than anyone else they worked with. Grandma often wished she could pick up the language as well as this lady. They were fast friends and often did visitations together. This young lady only a few years older than Grandma, as skilled as SHE was, often commented on how MARY was able to fix things when they were broken! She really admired grandma for her ability to do the everyday practical things that needed doing. They had an oil lantern that needed pumping up that would often be finicky. Would you believe it?; grandma fixed it time and time again. She also had learned to fix clocks when she was at home growing up. This was something she did with her two brothers that were closest to her in age, one by the name of Peter; the other name escapes me.
She often mentioned how happy she was she’d had a bike to get around, when in Japan. One day, she was cycling down a path to do house visitations. A large snake was crossing the road in front of her. She was so courageous! She simply stopped and waited for it to cross. To her astonishment, it stretched the whole span of the road. Was it poisonous or not? – she cringed at not knowing. Eventually, the coast was clear and she safely cycled to her destination.
On another occasion, while she was going to visit her next door neighbour, the last two feet of a snake caught her eye through the foliage. She KNEW it was a lot longer and it was slithering in the direction of her house. Hurriedly, she ran to her neighbours, “What should I do?!! She told her to put alcohol in a water bucket and dump it over the snake. A drunk snake is easy to kill. With haste, they filled the bucket and found the snake in the pond behind grandma’s house. It was huge; in grandma’s words, “a monster”. Contemplating the situation, they chose to dump their bucket as close as possible. In the midst of pouring the liquid at the snake, it began its’ exit from the pond. It sure looked drunk. Grabbing a blunt instrument, grandma Mary killed it, dragged it away, throwing it into a mountain stream nearby.
Grandma also told the story of the eight-year-old boy that she led to Christ during a Sunday school class. He was the only one who had attended that day and they were telling the story of Noah. He had many good questions and grandma patiently spent time explaining Bible truths to him. After a while, he expressed a desire to except Jesus as his Saviour. She and the other lady she was working with laid hands on him and prayed for him. That day, when his father saw him approaching the house, he could tell that something was different about his son. Many years later, his dad too, accepted Christ. He became a doctor when he grew up, got married and had two daughters. This is the young man in the wedding photo grandma has on her nightstand.
Grandma told many other stories during our visits but these were a few that I wrote down. It was a particularly good visit where she was positive and wanted to talk about happy memories in her life. Praising God that Grandma has gone home to be with Jesus! The legacy she left us is the impact her prayers had and will have on each of us.
- Sheila Friesen
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Tomi Todokoro posted a condolence
Monday, January 11, 2021
In 1994, the year Mary-san moved backed to Canada,
I believed in the Lord and was baptized on July 31st.
She handed me a cloth to make clothes for baptism.
I still remember my days in Agano Christ Church.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with her family.
Tomi Todokoro
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広瀨裕子 posted a condolence
Monday, January 11, 2021
I am deeply sad to learn of Ms. Mary’s passing.
I would like to offer my sincere condolences over the passing of her.
I cherish her memories of always honoring her.
I believe that she has fulfilled her mission as a worker of her Lord and is now rested in Heaven. I pray that the Lord's peace will be abundant on the bereaved family.
Hiroko Hirose
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Hilda Plett posted a condolence
Monday, January 11, 2021
I remember Mary from many years ago through the Missionary book in the Messenger. When she retired and moved back to Canada I had the privilege of meeting her and getting to know her a bit better. She was a wonderful woman of God who loved the Lord with all her heart. My sympathies to her family on her passing, yet rejoice that she is now present with the Lord!
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Isao Fukushima posted a condolence
Monday, January 11, 2021
Encounter with Dear Mary-san,
And in the days we spent together
Thank you again.
Now unload all the burden
You will be resting peacefully in heaven.
The comfort of the Lord Jesus on the family
We pray for abundant pouring.
in the Lord Isao & Miyako Fukushima
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Debbie Koop Sandland posted a condolence
Sunday, January 10, 2021
I remember writing letters to Aunt Mary as a child. She would always reply, and it was a thrill to get her letters from Japan. Fast forward many years to when she retired from the missionfield. She told me how hard it was to adjust to living in Canada. Then she fell in love with Uncle Peter, and it was a delight to watch her as a 'newlywed' in this new role as a wife.
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Eri Tanaka posted a condolence
Sunday, January 10, 2021
To family,I would like to condolences from the bottom of my heart.
When Mary lived in Japan, she teaching me English and the Bible.
She has always wrapped us in warm love.I will never forget that love.
From now on, I meet her in my heart ,and
I want her to hug me again.
Eri Tanaka (Sister of Ryoko Nagai) Shiga Japan
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Ryoko Nagai uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, January 10, 2021
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In Japan, Mary taught me English about 30 years ago.
She also guided me to Christ Jesus. This is the most precious meet in my life.
I remember her smile.
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The family of Mary Goertzen (nee Koop) uploaded a photo
Saturday, January 9, 2021
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Wednesday
13
January
Come and Go viewing
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Birchwood Funeral Chapel
162 PTH 52 W
Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
(204) 346-1030
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(204) 346-1030
(888) 454-1030
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