Obituary of Mary Poetker

It is with sadness that we the family announce the passing of Mary Poetker; wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, on Thursday, July 11th, 2024, while in the Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg.  After a lifelong journey of faith and trusting God, Mary passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Saviour, at the age of 96.

Mary was born in the village of Karatal, Russia on April 14th, 1928, to Aaron and Maria Enns and immigrated with her family due to political unrest, to Canada in 1929, to Glenbush, Saskatchewan.  In 1946, the family moved to Elm Creek, MB., where Mary grew up on the farm. Her life was interrupted to care for her brother and sister-in-law’s child because the mother had passed and her own mother was not in good physical health. This began a lifelong journey of a caring for others. After her brother re-married, Mary was free to attend Winkler Bible School, prior to finishing her high school, where she met the love of her life for the next 69 years, Nick. They were married in 1955.  They lived in Winnipeg for a short while before moving to Rosenort and later Morden where they raised their three children, Laureen, Ron and Marvin.  

Mary has always been involved in caring for others in her community or through her church.  Special needs children were blessed by having her as an EA in the classroom, and later she volunteered helping out at the community and hospital gift shops. It was never too much to help out someone in need.  She loved to garden, travel, watch baseball games and spent time with people and family. Family reunions seemed to light her up as she, along with siblings and in-laws would spend time sharing food and stories.  Games were also a big part of her life, either playing scrabble with family or Skip Bo with children, granddaughters and grandsons. She was always engaged with people, in either serving through the community or the church she loved. Nick and Mary moved to Winnipeg upon retirement in 2002 and spent the last 22 years living in the Lindenwood Estates community. They attended Portage Avenue Church where they reacquainted with old friends, made new ones and were able to help out family and friends during their retirement years. 

Mary is survived by her husband Nick Poetker, children: Laureen Brookes (Geoff), Ron Poetker (Pat) and Marvin Poetker (Rhonda), nine grandchildren;  Jamie Hodgmann (Kyle), Joshua Poetker (Kassia), Ali Poetker, and Drew Poetker (Trisha), Breanne Locke (Joe), Nick Poetker, Courtney Brookes, Hillary Brookes, and Sean Brookes. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Keira and Levi Locke, Emma Poetker, Armando Campbell, Nora Poetker and Sophia BrookesWoods.  She is also survived by her siblings, Marg Matthies, Hilda Hamm (Henry), Neil Enns (Bernice), and John Enns.

Mary is predeceased by her parents Aaron and Maria Enns, brothers; Wally, Nick, Pete, Aaron and sister Ann. 

Gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to Square One World Media.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., at Portage Avenue Church, 1420 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB., with viewing an hour before the service.  To join the family via livestream, please click HERE at the time of the service. 

Interment will take place at La Salle Mennonite Cemetery, La Salle, MB.