Obituary of Anne Guenther

August 28, 1933 - March 17, 2023

89 Years

Anna Guenther was ushered into her heavenly home on March 17, 2023, at the age of 89 years.

She will lovingly be remembered by daughter Marion (Bob) Wiebe of Ranger Lake Bible Camp - granddaughters Angela (Peter) Thorpe (Julia, Claire, Benjamin) & Shannon (Joe) Vidal (Elijah, Hudson, Sawyer, Beau); son Bob (Jane) of Saskatoon - granddaughter Nicole (Oliver, Zoey, Maverick & Alayna, daughter of Pamela); son Tom (Cindy) of Kerrobert, SK; daughter Jeanette (Kurt) Shinn of Ogden, Utah - granddaughter Annika; son-in-law Dave Reddekopp of Surrey - grandsons Rod (Tanya) Reddekopp (Samantha, Zachary) & Matthew (Jennesa) Reddekopp (Alexis, Mason, Jaxon, Ryker); “adopted” grandchildren - Jessica Molnar (& family), Ronnie Zerr (& family), numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents - Bernhard and Helena (Fehr) Hiebert, 12 siblings, daughter, Linda Reddekopp, grandson, Curtis Reddekopp and granddaughter, Pamela Guenther.

Mom was born on August 28, 1933, as the second youngest child and youngest girl of a total of 13 children. She was born at home just like her siblings. They lived on the farm in the hamlet of Hochstadt between Osler and Hague. Unlike her older brothers and sisters, she was able to attend English school with only about a half hour of German every day. They owned about a quarter acre of land and were very poor.  In fact, mom only had one dress to wear. So for school, she would wear it with the right side out and then when she came home she would turn it inside out so she could keep the best side clean for school.

In 1948, when she was 14 years old, mom met dad. Her sister Margaret was working for her dad‘s parents at the time. They saw each other briefly every week until his dad found out and then he was only allowed to come every two weeks for the next year. On July 27, 1952, when mom was just a month shy of 19, they got married on the Guenther farm where they lived in the summer kitchen for the first winter. Later that year they moved to Saskatoon where their first child was born. In 1960 they moved to the acreage where the rest of the kids were born. Mom was an amazing mother - we don’t remember her ever raising her voice to us, kids. She did the majority of the childcare and disciplining as Dad worked in the city and often in the evenings as well. She always made sure we were well fed and clothed, sewing a lot of us girl’s clothing. She was a talented seamstress.

In 1971, mom got her driver’s and eventually got a job cleaning houses. She became friends with the homeowners and would often talk about these people. They were very good to her, and they appreciated her very much.

Linda as the oldest was the first to get married and bring mom and dad their first grandchild. What a proud grandma mom was. She doted on Rod and the rest of the grandkids to come. She loved to spend time with them and loved babysitting. Then the great-grandchildren came, and I’m sure many of you have heard stories about how special her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were and how precious each one was to her. Her and Dad even adopted a few extras. She was amazing at getting birthday cards to everyone, on time. She transferred names and ages to her new calendar each year so she could keep track.

Mom and dad were both very involved in their church and they had many Sunday school picnics at the acreage, which were enjoyed by all. Mom was a wonderful hostess and loved having people over and cooking for them.

In 2009, mom and dad sold the acreage, had a huge auction and moved to Hector Trout Manor, where they enjoyed the activities and making new friends.

On New Year’s Eve 2012, dad was rushed to the hospital, where mom faithfully took care of him every day until he went to be with Jesus on April 29, 2013.

Mom continued on at Hector Trout, doing well on her own. She loved the activities, coffee time, potluck dinners, catered suppers, and most of all, quilting which was a new hobby for her. She had made many friends there and had gotten close to Darlene across the hall, and then later on she was very happy when Louise from church moved into the building as well. 

On November 30, 2021 Mom had a stroke. She did not wake up for the first 48 hours. When she started coming around, she couldn’t talk. We praised God when she improved and was moved to Parkridge about eight days later, and on January 7 moved back home to her apartment. But she was never quite the same and didn’t fully get her energy back. On February 21 when Marion visited her, she was not feeling well at all.  So Marion took care of her with Bob‘s help for the next few days and on Sunday evening was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia. She seemed to rally and we were praising God for the miracles, but then her body started fighting another minor infection, and it seemed that after her youngest child, Jean (from the states) came, she started going downhill and mom asked her if Tom and Cindy from Kerrobert were coming back to visit that day. She was moved to comfort care and with all of her children at her bedside as she had requested that morning, the high flow oxygen was removed. After a few days, her second request was granted as God welcomed her into her heavenly home on the evening of March 17 with her two daughters, one granddaughter, and two great granddaughters at her side.

Mom will be deeply missed by her family as well as many others. Mom had a gentle spirit and was a light everywhere she went. She was a Godly woman and influenced people all around her. Mom spent much time in prayer and had a weekly prayer meeting in her Hector Trout home for many years before the stroke. We will miss her loving, encouraging presence and her heartfelt prayers for us.  

The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 1:30 P.M. at the Evangelical Free Church, 3102 Laurier Drive, Saskatoon, SK.  Interment will take place at Hochstadt Cemetery.

The livestream link for the Funeral Service

https://www.youtube.com/live/hrVoCDjVk8E?feature=share

In Lieu of Flowers, donations in Anne's memory can be made to:

Ranger Lake Bible Camp

106-2543 Dudley Street
Saskatoon, SK S7M 5V3

or

https://www.rlbc.ca/donate

Arrangements entrusted to Funk's Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK