Helen Kornelsen
Obituary
Helen Falk/Kornelsen, nee Peters, aged 96, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Bethesda Regional Health Centre, Steinbach, Manitoba, after a short 3 day stay.
She is survived by her son Allan Falk and his wife Sylvia, grandsons Kevin Falk and Kyle Falk and their families, great-granddaughter Autumn, stepdaughter Leanne (Harold) Loewen and their families as well as two sisters Mary Loeppky and Betty Funk.
Helen was predeceased by her parents Cornelius and Agatha Peters, her first husband John Falk in 1994 after 45 years of marriage, her second husband Art Kornelsen in 2020, married 17 years, as well as six brothers and one sister.
Helen was born June 26, 1930, in Randolph, MB. She was the third child and oldest daughter in a family of 10 children. She grew up on the family farm in the Randolph area and attended school and church in Randolph. Being the oldest daughter required her to take many days away from school to help out at home.
In 1949 Helen was baptised upon her confession of faith in Jesus Christ at the Chortitzer CMC. That same year on August 14, Helen married John Falk. They lived in Silberfeld for a few years, with two winters spent together in a Lumber Camp in the Whiteshell area where she worked as a camp cook for the lumberjacks.
In 1952 the couple moved to Steinbach where they both found jobs. Helen had several part-time jobs including Yountown one day a week and Barkman Hardware five days a week.
1953 found Helen and John back in the bush, working in the Penner lumber camp. In spring they moved to Steinbach into a new house they had moved there.
In 1960 Mom & Dad traded their Steinbach home with her parents’ farm which allowed her parents to retire. This put her back on the farm she grew up on.
In 1959, Helen and John welcomed a baby boy when Allan was born.
In 1964, Helen and John moved to Shakespeare MB where they had a new house and barn constructed. Helen was actively involved in the Silberfeld Church, teaching Sunday School and attending Ladies Aids. She volunteered at the Steinbach MCC thrift stores, clerking, sewing blankets, etc. She also spent several summers helping at Carberry Bible Camp and in later years also helped at the Roseau River Bible Camp.
In 1977, Helen and John spent an unforgettable month helping Missionaries in the jungles of Bolivia, meeting and seeing how the Ayore people lived.
In 1982, Helen started regularly singing with a group of ladies for the residents of Nursing Homes and continued doing so until 2004.
In 1986, Helen and John sold their country property and moved back to Steinbach. They were active in the CMC church serving in various capacities and got involved in Prison Ministries with the Stoney Mountain Chapel Volunteers.
John passed away suddenly on Christmas Eve 1994 and so began a new chapter in Helen’s life. In November of 1996 she took a trip to Paraguay to visit her brother Jake and family as well as the Falk relatives. This also included a side trip to Brazil to see the Iguusu Falls and the ITAIPU Power Plant.
In 2001, Helen sold her house on Lumber Ave and moved into a new condo complex called Stone Creek Courts.
In 2003, Helen married Art Kornelsen. They enjoyed travelling together in their early years together, 2004 to Costa Rica, 2005 by car to Mazatlan, and in 2012 a trip to Germany with many trips in between to Lethbridge Alberta to visit Harold and Leanne and their families.
During their seventeen years of marriage Art had many health issues and mom was the caregiver 24-7, especially the last five and a half years when he was receiving dialysis. These were difficult years.
Art passed away in 2020, leaving Helen alone again. With only one son and two grandsons there wasn’t always enough family around to fill her time. She continued to live on her own till the time of her death, still able to cook and care for herself. This gives testament to the strong person she was.
Her faith never wavered, it was her salvation and her comfort.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, Manitoba, with viewing one hour prior to the service.
