HERTA JOHANNA UNRUH

Herta Johanna Unruh, a loving wife, a gracious mother, an adoring grandmother and great-grandmother.

A faithful friend to many.

Our mother was born in Hamburg, Germany on a cold winter day February 18th, 1928. She was the 3rd child born to Walter and Johanna Bosecke.

Her teenage years were wrought with the WW2 experience. Terror and fear were not foreign to her.

Mom met Peter Unruh, our dad, in 1947, they were married and had one child, Katy, in Germany before they immigrated to Canada in 1949. Immigration was not easy, leaving your family behind, coming to a new country, faced with a new language and immigrating with all the in-laws.

When Mom and Dad immigrated, they moved to Newton Siding where the Dycks, who sponsored us lived. They worked hard to pay off their debt. That same year they moved to 358 Beverly in Winnipeg, again living with many of Mom’s in laws. Two more daughters, Helen and Mary were added to the family. During this time Mom gave her heart to the Lord Jesus, was baptized and lived for the Lord the rest of her life. Mom and Dad sponsored mom’s brother, Egon Bosecke to come to Canada. Finally reuniting with some of her family.

They worked hard to buy their own home, and relocated their little family to 500 Clifton St. There they experienced the heart ache of losing a child, Peter, he was born and died the same day.

In 1956, David was born. Mom and Dad were able to bring Mom’s mother over from Germany to stay with us for a few months. In 1960 they built a home at 287 Union Ave to be closer to Elmwood Church, and brought home a new baby, Elizabeth.

Over the years, Mom travelled to Germany to see her family on a number of occasions. Mom and Dad travelled to Mexico and went to Fairmont Hot Springs for many years. They played many games of Yahtzee and Rummicube with anyone who was willing. You usually played till someone besides Mom won, which sometimes could take a long time. She was almost always the winner. She was also an exceptional Puzzler with an ability to do 2000 piece puzzles that had 2 different sides. She could also fix small appliances and untangle any fishing line and still have time to catch the biggest fish.

After Dad sold his business, Mom helped Dad with custodial duties at MBCI and they worked together for a number of years. When Dad retired mom promptly taught him how to vacuum and how to help in the kitchen. Mom taught Dad how to make thousands and thousands of Gingerbread Cookies for Palliser Furniture’s Christmas Parties. Together they made and gave away endless Valentine heart cookies and thousands of meat buns.

After Dad passed away in 2015, Mom relocated to Kildonan House and quickly became a dear friend to the residents, the staff and many of her Home Care workers. She really enjoyed flowers in her room, particularly roses, which were refreshed weekly from family and friends.

When Mom’s health declined after breaking her leg in 2018, she needed more care. Mothering duties fell to her children and a number of other very special people including Carol, Minerva, Cleo, Irena, Gloria, Leni and the fantastic staff at Kildonan House. You have been such a blessing to Mom over the past 8 years.

Aside from staff, her wonderful friends Marvelle and Barrie routinely checked in on her 2-3 times a day. Many many thanks for your thousands of visits.

A big thank you to Dr. Robert Johnson who always returned phone calls and did house calls when Mom was unable to get around. Mom's last words to him were “I love you.”

To our sister Mary, you extended Mom’s life and improved her quality of living. You willingly sacrificed your time and energy and loved Mom on a daily basis. You gave our Mom the gift of mothering at a moments notice and our family is indebted to you for your service of love over the last decade.

Mom was gentle, soft spoken, kind, gracious, non judgemental and loving. No one ever felt like a stranger, it did not take long for her to make you feel at ease. She was an extraordinary grandmother and spent as much time with her grandchildren as she could. She continued her “hands on relationship” with her great grandchildren even collecting Pokemon cards with Jack and Claire over the last 2 years.

Our Mom was an example to all of us to be strong and choose to come out ahead regardless of your present circumstances. Her life was well-lived leaving us behind to carry on her legacy. She prayed for people constantly and thanked everyone for being a part of her life to the end.

We love you Mom and thank you for all the memories.

Herta Unruh is predeceased by her husband, Peter, her infant son Peter and her son-in-law David Reimer. She was the last remaining member of her siblings.

Left behind to mourn her passing are her sisters-in-law Kaethe Loewen (Winnipeg), and Maria Unruh (Germany) her children Katy Reimer, Helen and Wally Streilein, Mary Unruh, David and Susan Unruh, Elizabeth and Rod Grahn; 20 grandchildren with their spouses and 22 great grandchildren.

In the early hours of May 25, 2023 Herta Johanna Unruh, our Mom and Oma went to be with her Lord and Savior. She was 95, with a life well-lived.

Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church, 145 Henderson Hwy., with viewing prior to the service.

The service will be livestreamed through the Elmwood MB Church, and available at:

https://www.youtube.com/live/M5kSR1ZqCIk?feature=share

Interment will take place in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens.