Funeral For: Michael Jeremy Reimer
Funeral Date: March 6, 2025
Michael Jeremy Reimer, 48, of Steinbach passed away Thursday, February 20th at Health Sciences Centre. He is survived by his parents Lou and Joyce Reimer.
The funeral service for Michael Jeremy Reimer will be held Thursday, March 6th at 11am at Birchwood Funeral Chapel with burial at Heritage Cemetery.
Viewing will be at the chapel prior to the service.
Donations may be made to Envision Foundation 2012 Incorporated.
Arrangements by Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach.
Peacefully, on the sunny afternoon of Thursday, February 20, 2025, after six intense days of medical frustration and trauma, Mikey gently and quietly slipped the surly bonds of earth and passed over to his great reward. We picture him as a work in progress for 48 years, now finally complete, able to verbalize all those amazing thoughts that were within him, but could never get out, his often-present song on his lips accompanied by his mischievous smile and laugh.
“I stormed into this world at 9:20PM Canada Day 1976, and as would be my character, on my own terms, three weeks early. Enroute to our room, mom and I stopped at a hallway window to see the July 1 fireworks, appropriate in so many ways. Fireworks in the backyard were our birthday tradition for many years. I was a relatively happy baby, although I didn’t sleep well, something which continued throughout my life, but even when I cried, I often tried to smile through it. As those early months wore on, my developmental delays were becoming more and more apparent to mom and dad. At about 1 year, our doctor sent us to a specialist to check on what was going on. At this appointment, we were told that I was and would be extremely disabled, would have about a 10-year lifespan, and our best option would be to institutionalize me. “Huh”, I thought, “I’ll prove him wrong”.
“I feel I’ve had a good life along with some challenges. From seizures, to running away, to banging my head on stuff when I was frustrated, to not liking to eat, to not sleeping well, I know I worried mom and dad, but they loved me, and life was good. I liked playing with seven golf balls, anything green, splashing in the water endlessly, my warm bath times, my fantastic discovery of the Esso logo, long car rides and listening to a variety of music from Jesus Loves Me to Wynton Marsalis. I would like to thank a lot of people who walked alongside me through life. Thank you to the people at Woodlawn Special Ed, my program at SRSS, and all my support people at Martha P. Rempel Center (enVision). Thanks also to my managers and support staff and my roommate Denis at my residence; you were great and invaluable friends. I would like to name you all, and I’m sure I’d forget some, but the names don’t all come to my lips. Thanks to my family circle who supported and loved me in so many ways. I had some very special cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents. I especially look forward to seeing my Auntie Adeline, whom I have missed dearly for many years. I know my mama and dad, Joyce and Lou, will miss me, but they know I’m in good hands.”
We’d like to specifically thank the people from the end of Mike’s journey. Thanks to the medical staff at Bethesda ER and also to the incredibly capable, caring, gentle trauma team at the emergency resuscitation unit at HSC. We also thank the management team at enVision for their support and care during this stressful time. We’re extremely thankful that Mike’s final hours were peaceful, something that we had always prayed for. God is good all the time.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with viewing 1 hour prior to the service. Interment to follow at the Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB. To join the family via livestream, please visit Birchwood Funeral Chapels website and view Michael's obituary.
If you’d care to, donations may be made to enVision Foundation Inc. You may call 204-326-7539 or go the donation page at envisioncl.com