Katharina Dyck

1932 - 2007

Katie passed away peacefully on July 20, 2007 at the Brooks Hospital, with her family by her side. Katie will be best remembered for her selfless nature, her kindheartedness and her tremendous, unconditional love of family and friends.

Katie is survived by her loving family: Henry, her husband of fifty years; her sons Willy (Edith), Heinz (Irene) and Richard (Janine); her beloved grandchildren Lucas, Katiya, Chad, Brennan, Nicole, Connor, Aidan, Matthew and Melissa; her brothers Peter (Barb) Neufeld, George (Loni) Neufeld and sisters Erika (Joachim) Blank and Margaret (Cornelius) Klassen; and a multitude of nephews and nieces. Katie was pre-deceased by her parents and 8 siblings.

Katie was born on October 13, 1932 in Hierschau, Russia to Anna and Aaron Neufeld. She and her family were forced to leave their home during WWII - fleeing to Poland, then Germany, before emigrating to Canada in 1949. She worked in Rosemary, Alberta with her mother and 8 siblings and moved to Coaldale, Alberta in 1952. It was there she met Henry Dyck, who would come to be the love of her life. They were married in October of 1956 and set up their first home in Calgary, Alberta. In 1964 they left the big city to raise their young and growing family in the security of a small farm in the One Tree District of Brooks, Alberta. There she nurtured her family and established an extensive network of lifelong friends.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00PM on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at the Coaldale Mennonite Church (2316 - 17 St.) and interment will follow at the Coaldale Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to gather for a reception at the Mennonite Church gymnasium afterwards.

In memory of Katie, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee made in care of the Coaldale Mennonite Church (345-3363), or to the Brooks Health Centre.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Stefanus Badenhorst and all the nurses and doctors of Unit B for the exceptional level of compassion and care shown to our mother and wife.