Henry Jacob Dyck
August 8, 1929 – May 29, 2023
Henry Dyck passed away peacefully at Bethany Pioneer Village, Middle Lake, Saskatchewan, at the age of 93, to be with his Lord and Saviour. He enjoyed his final days surrounded by family and grandchildren. Henry, the 11th child of Jacob and Anna Dueck (nee Reimer) was born on August 8, 1929, in the USSR near the Black Sea, in the region now known as the Donesk Region of the Ukraine. He was raised in a small Mennonite settlement that spoke low German. As a family they read the Bible and learned of the promises of God and how He would always lead and provide. While his early years were spent on a mixed farm, his life and family were upended by WWII. Losing his parents at the age of nine, and displaced to Germany with his sister’s family, he worked for a butcher, which provided some food which was scarce, until immigrating alone to Canada in 1949 at the age of 19. There he worked as a hired hand on the Griffin mixed farm near Middle Lake, SK, and in 1951 he married the farmer’s daughter Dorothy, and stayed on the farm where he began putting down roots and learning English. Henry was a very hard worker and built his first family home in 1954. He continued working and expanding the farmland and teaching his girls how to work hard, be independent, and to help on the farm. He faithfully started each day with family devotions: reading from the Bible, and the story in Our Daily Bread, followed by a prayer, often in German. He prayed for each family member by name. While quality time was always paired with an activity, Henry built many memories while fishing, and enjoyed being social while curling, bowling, and playing pool to pass the time in the cold winter months. Henry also played chess competitively- having first learned from his father around age five. In 1976, with three girls already living on their own, he sold the animals, built a new home in Middle Lake and continued to grain farm. This change meant he had more time to spend with his children and grandchildren – often helping with household projects. Every family remembers many Kaiser games, Brier curling bonspiels, and meals of his beef and potato soup. We all saw the days when Henry was tired, impatient, and very opinionated, but we also saw his caring, thoughtful side as well. He was a quick learner and taught himself carpentry as a necessity, but it soon became a skill he could use to help and connect with others throughout his life. He made tree houses for all the grandchildren. He helped build cabinets and shingle roofs in the community. He even spent his vacation making cabinets for a needy woman in Mexico, and followed up with her the next year when he bought her some false teeth since every young woman deserved to have a nice smile. He always remembered how it felt to have very little. He worshipped and served in the Middle Lake Gospel Church. Dorothy and Henry sold their home in Middle Lake and the home quarter of land in 2002, built a house in Merritt, BC, and then retired to Abbotsford, BC. There, Dorothy and Henry were members and involved in ministry at Clearbrook Mennonite Church where they served as deacons and supported initiatives that helped people in the community. He believed and trusted in the God that he served, the God that had been faithful and provided in his life, the same God that has now taken him home. In 2016 they returned to Middle Lake to be closer to family. Dorothy passed away in 2017. Henry lived at Bethany Pioneer Village until his death on May 29, 2023. He leaves a legacy of faith. Henry is survived by 4 daughters: Debora Hill, Shirley (Bert) Guest, Edith (Rob) Arthur, and Janice (David) Paslawski: 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren: Hardi (Keryn) Sulimma and children Ayden, Evalyn, Levi, and Joseph; Chelsea Guest; Tyler (Candie) Guest and children Layla, Sawyer, and Claire; Dustin Guest, Cassidy Guest; Megan (Taylor) Seier; Sara Arthur (Sascha da Silva) and son Finnegan; Matthew Paslawski, Adam Paslawski, Mikhaila Paslawski; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Dyck (nee Griffin); daughter Brenda Dyck; parents Jacob and Anna Dueck (nee Reimer); a sister in California Annie (Jacob) Reimer, siblings in Canada, Maria (Kurt) Zimmerman, Adolph (Irma) Dueck, sister-in-law Margaret (Henry) Doerksen; and siblings left behind: Peter, Jacob, Justina, Nikol, Katerina, Johan, and Heinrich. The Funeral Service was held on Monday, June 5, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at Bethany Pioneer Village (Silver Willow Room), Middle Lake, SK, officiated by Pastor Ryan Schnee. Others taking part were: Megan Seier, memorial table attendant; and Rob Arthur, eulogist. Music ministry was provided by pianist Dori Cooke and soloist Sharon Carter. Pallbearers were Dustin Guest, Cassidy Guest, Rob Arthur, David Paslawski, Matthew Paslawski, and Adam Paslawski. Interment followed at Middle Lake Gospel Church Cemetery in the Middle Lake district. Memorial donations may be directed to Bethany Pioneer Village - Mobility Van Campaign (PO Box 8, Middle Lake, SK, S0K 2X0), or to Mennonite Central Committee (134 Plaza Dr., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5K9).
This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)