John Koop

Obituary

John Koop aged 85 years, of Steinbach passed away on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

Dad was born on October 20, 1933. He was the oldest of seventeen children. He married our mom Clara Fast on September 12, 1954. They spent over 64 years together. Dad spent the final three years at Rest Haven Nursing Home. Together they had nine children, Marvin, Elaine, Audrey, Karen, Darrel, Lucille, Waldon, Sylvia, and Reynold. As a family, we lived in Kleefeld, Canora, Kamsack, MacGregor, Vanderhoof and then circled back to their home community of Kleefeld, eventually retiring to Woodhaven in Steinbach.

Dad had fond memories of being a cheese maker in Kleefeld and Grunthal. He also told stories of working at a saw mill and in the bush.

Dad worked at Schellenberg’s grocery store prior to and while he attended Steinbach Bible School. He felt a calling to be a pastor and had a real passion for learning about the Bible and theology. It was during this time that their infant Karen passed away.

Following graduation, a teacher suggested they move west to help with one of the small churches in the conference. They took this advice and traveled to Canora, Saskatchewan. Their prayer was that if Dad was offered a job, it would be affirmation of God’s leading. They stopped to see the one couple they knew, moments later Dad had a job. Mom said “it was overwhelming, but we had prayed and God answered.” And so they moved with their five little ones.

A year later, they moved from Canora to Kamsack where Dad became the pastor of the EMC church. It was there that Dad was ordained into the ministry.

After five years in Kamsack, our family moved to MacGregor, Manitoba. For most of the ten years, Dad pastored in MacGregor, he also worked half time for Norfolk Construction. It was a young church, so Dad had many opportunities to baptize young people and officiate weddings. It was during this time Dad was elected as Moderator of the EMC. He enjoyed the community and felt very positive about his work. MacGregor became our home.

During this time, the church held a vote of confidence, Mom and Dad both thought the vote would go well. It did not. They and we, as children, were devastated. The church leadership was also surprized, and asked if Dad would continue pastoring for one more year. It was hard, but Dad agreed. Years later, Dad would say, “It was good we stayed another year. We did not break relationships and continued to have friends there.”
After that year, Mom and Dad moved to Vanderhoof BC to pastor the EMC church. The move meant they left two granddaughters in Manitoba. Their family grew through the marriage of four children and the birth of many grandchildren. One of Dad’s responsibilities was to be principal of the church school, but you would never find him bragging about that.

In 1985, Mom and Dad moved to Winnipeg so that Dad could attend Seminary. He graduated with a Master of Arts degree. Following graduation, Dad pastored the Kleefeld EMC. He felt very affirmed as a pastor and as a person in this church. We remember him telling us about one congregation meeting when he and mom were asked to come late so his work could be discussed. When they were invited to come in they received a standing ovation. This was an incredible blessing for both of them.

Then on that very dark day in January, 1995 we lost our dear Elaine. This was the most difficult challenge for our family. Mom and Dad struggled to see their young grandchildren without a mom and their son-in-law without his dear wife. This was when our family became huggers.
Shortly after, Dad took the position of EMC conference pastor. This position allowed for Dad to visit many churches and people all across the EMC conference. Dad thrived on that.

In 2001, Mom and Dad moved to Oasis Mexico, to help with a new EMC church plant. They again met many new people. Dad took on the challenge to read and preach in Low German. It was here that Mom first noticed Dad’s early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. It was also here that Mom had a brain aneurism. Dad’s love for Mom was evident as he supported her through her recovery. While we as children were preparing for the possibility of Mom being in a wheel chair, Dad spoke to Mom about going together for walks again. His optimism was remarkable.

Mom and Dad retired to life in Kleefeld and enjoyed their home, their garden, and many friends. Dad’s Alzheimer’s continued to rob him of his memory. When he was asked how he was doing, one of his favourite lines was, “well, my forgetter is getting better.”

When they could no longer manage the house and yard in Kleefeld, they moved to Woodhaven in Steinbach. This was a good home for them, especially when Dad needed the care offered at Rest Haven. The first year in Rest Haven was very hard for him. He just wanted to go home and be together with Mom.

The last few years have been painful for all of us, as we watched his health and quality of life deteriorate. We all found it hard but wondered how hard it was for him. To the end, Dad’s faith was steadfast. His love for his sweetheart and his God was evident.

Dad leaves to mourn his wife Clara, seven children, 27 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren, eight brothers, eight sisters and a large extended family.

We as a family wish to express our gratitude to the Rest Haven staff. Thank you for caring for our Dad in your wonderful and unique ways.

Come & Go Visitation will be held on Friday, January 18, 2019 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kleefeld Evangelical Mennonite Church, 25121 Road 35N, Kleefeld, MB., with a viewing prior to the service. The burial will follow at the Kleefeld EMC Cemetery, Kleefeld, MB.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of John may be made to EMC Missions, 440 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5.

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