Elsie Kroeker

Elsie Marie Kroeker

1951 - 2022

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Elsie

Obituary of Elsie Marie Kroeker

Elsie was born on May 6th, 1951 to Peter and Lena Cornelson and grew up in the Blumenort area.

On August 27th, 1976, Elsie married her husband Tim Kroeker. After the heartbreaking loss of two daughters in infancy, they chose Loni and Jonathan to be their children. 

By her gentle nature, actions and words she strove to model a life that would honour Jesus. Mom had a strong desire for others to have the deep peace and joy she was experiencing in her spirit. She spent time daily praying, by name, spiritual protection and God's nearness for her family, friends, acquaintances and whomever else God’s Holy Spirit placed on her heart. Her Bible and the well-worn prayer cards bear evidence to that.

She memorized hundreds of Bible verses and when she struggled with sleepless nights, she would review those scriptures in her mind and pray.

Mom was an outgoing lady who was committed to her family and whoever crossed the threshold of her home. She loved to be in her kitchen and had the gift of creating delicious meals from seemingly nothing.  She was known as the waffle Grandma to the friends her children and grandchildren brought home. Waffles topped with cream sauce, strawberries, and blue berries. It was her way of expressing love and acceptance.

Her mother Lena modeled a   lifestyle of servant hood based on the principles taught by Jesus. Mom followed her example in serving and loving her family, friends, the church, and those who crossed her path. She loved to sing and was part of several ladies singing groups and regularly sang with a group at St. Boniface hospital 

Mom took her nurses training and found her God given niche. She worked at Steinbach Medical Clinic, St. Boniface Hospital, St. Amant Centre and was camp nurse at Red Rock and Beaver Creek Bible Camps. Right to the end her nursing skills were always in demand whether patching up scrapes and wounds, caring for a sick person or with gentle compassion reassuring individuals that their medical problems were not life threatening. They were not going to die   She saved the health care system a lot of money.

Her nursing career ended when she entered the journey with lupus, kidney failure, dialysis, kidney transplant, hip replacement, and other illnesses. She was not a quitter and went through this long journey with tenacity and the incredible self discipline of diet and taking the dog on long daily walks - sun, rain, wind or freezing cold. She did not complain.

Transcending all of her pain and discomfort was her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. It was in her personal relationship with Him that she found deep abiding comfort and strength to face each moment of the day. She spent many hours each day reading her Bible, praying and countless hours on the phone visiting, counseling, mentoring, and praying with individuals.

Mom loved fireworks, lakes, rivers, mountains, good parties, weddings. And especially camping with her children. She was awed at God's amazing creativity when she saw the beauty of flowers, butterflies, stars, a fresh blanket of snow, sunsets. She loved babies, children of all ages, the elderly, all people.  And who would have ever imagined her loving cats and having a husky named Raffiki living in her house?

Mom came from a family of four sisters who as a rule, when they were together, could be heard before they were seen. Never a dull moment. They went on many trips together, sister weekends at the cottage or at one another’s homes.

The bond between these four transcended sisterhood norms. As time went on, they shared a growing powerful spiritual connection founded on a common faith in Jesus Christ. A legacy to their own mother's faith.  They rallied around our mom through her health journey and 20 years ago, the baby of the four shared her kidney with Elsie which they affectionately named Anne Marie after their middle names.  Thank you, Dorothy, for giving her an amazing extra 20 years. A time she cherished and invested well into her children, family, and friends. Her prayer was that in Heaven the circle of family and friends would not be broken.

On June 25th, 2022 angels from Heavens armies were dispatched to bring the spirit of Elsie Marie Kroeker home into the presence of her Creator, Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Whom she adored.

Elsie Marie Kroeker age 71 was predeceased by two daughters Roxanne and Cindy, her parents Peter and Lena Cornelson and brother-in-law LeRoy Barkman.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 45 years Tim, daughter Elona (Loni) and son-in-law Rodney, son Jonathan, dearly loved grandsons Austin and Rowan, sisters Marcella, Ruth (Lloyd), Dorothy (Bob) and nieces and nephews.

Elsie suffered sudden heart failure at a wedding reception. Anita and Jon, thank you for your kind words of understanding when you said, "God will bring something good out of this."

As family we wish to express appreciation to Devin, Breanna and Jordan for their prompt attention to Elsie, EMS personnel and the RCMP. Thank you to the group in attendance for gathering to pray for our family. Thank you to Birchwood Funeral Chapel and to Southland Church for your compassionate care.

In leu of flowers donations can be made to Adult and Teen Challenge -Thunder Bay, 401 Syndicate Ave South, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 1E4 

 

A public viewing will be held on Monday, July 4, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Southland Church, Steinbach, MB. with interment to follow. 

Monday
4
July

Viewing

7:00 pm
Monday, July 4, 2022
Birchwood Funeral Chapel
162 PTH 52 W
Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
(204) 346-1030
Tuesday
5
July

Funeral Service

2:00 pm
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Southland Church
190 PTH 52 W
Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada

Interment

Prairie Rose EMC Cemetery
PR 210
Landmark, Manitoba, Canada