Caroline Loewen
Obituary
Caroline Loewen, age 92, of Winnipeg, MB, passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Bethania Personal Care Home, Winnipeg, MB.
She is survived by her children Rita Kroeker (Wendell), Sylvia Loewen, Ralph Loewen (Cindy), Lyle Loewen (Paula), Stewart Loewen (Heather), Gregory Loewen (Cathie), 16 grandchildren: Matthew Kroeker (Kirsten), Dalen Kroeker (Bonnie), Tyson Kroeker (Diane), Amy Layer (Brian), Ben Loewen, Pavel Loewen, Arthur Loewen (Brijal), Marissa Loewen, Brenlee DeFelice (Joash), Kara Hague (Tim), Jordan Loewen (Karis), Dawson Loewen (Kirsten), Jenna Burdette (Levi), Mackenzie Loewen (Alexa), Kaelee Loewen, Aaron Loewen and 12 great-children: Karen, Rhea, Todd & Lee, Haley & Annika, Capri & Chase, Ella & Remington, Gia & Emmanuel. She is also survived by her brothers Ken Penner (Helen) and Leonard Penner (Hettie) and sisters-in-law Valida Friesen, Lydia Loewen, Katherine Loewen, Viola Penner, and Ruth Penner.
She was predeceased by her husband Peter Loewen in 2011.
Caroline was born in Landmark, Manitoba and her childhood and teen year’s memories center around her four sisters and six brothers, grandparents as well as aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins. Many a winter was spent at National Mills at the family lumber camp, cooking for the crew. She took a year of teacher’s college and taught for a year before she married Peter Loewen in 1954 and moved to their farm in the Interlake, near Riverton.
In 1968 they moved to Arborg and Caroline kept busy raising six children, doing the bookkeeping for Peter’s feed mill business (Scientific Feed Ltd), taking university classes, getting a Bachelor of Arts degree – majoring in Psychology, teaching Sunday School (Riverton Gospel Chapel and Arborg Christian Fellowship), volunteering for the hospital auxiliary, curling, and often opening their home to foster children.
In 1969 they bought a boat and after waterskiing everyone appreciated the picnics Caroline prepared. Until a year or two ago, she cheered on her great grandchildren as they learned to waterski at the annual family camping weekend.
Caroline and Peter volunteered in Ukraine for a winter, working at a Bible college in Zaporizhzhia. They also enjoyed visiting missionaries in Ecuador and Haiti, and their vacations to Israel, Churchill, Disneyland, Banff, Calgary, Montreal, and numerous Caribbean cruises.
In 2006 Caroline and Peter moved to Winnipeg and began attending Braeside Evangelical Mennonite Church. For several years Caroline taught a life skills class to a group of women at Charis Centre with Union Gospel Mission. Together Caroline and Peter served with the Gideons and attended annual Gideon conferences all over Canada and the US. Later, they served with Lifelight Ministries, distributing New Testaments in northern communities. Ministering to those in need was always a focus for both Caroline and Peter.
Mom was an avid reader and ‘thinker’ and loved playing Scrabble with her sisters, friends and even in a Scrabble club that she joined after moving to Winnipeg.
Caroline made Bethania her home in February 2022. She enjoyed attending recreation activities and her favourites were trivia, games, and exercise class. Mom’s ready smile helped her build many meaningful relationships with residents and staff. The family is grateful for the care shown to Mom during her last three years at Bethania Personal Care Home.
The memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.
