Neil Warkentin

Obituary

Neil Warkentin, age 83, of Steinbach, MB, passed away surrounded by family early on the morning of Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB.

Dad is survived by his beloved wife, Tina and their sons, Earl (Cheryl), Randy (Angela), and Darrin (Alvira), daughters, Selena, and Jennifer (Randall Funk) and his 15 beloved grandchildren, Paul (Chelsea), Lindsay, Nancy (John), Robert (April), Joel, Jacey, Josh (Kristen), Bruce (Jess), Amy, Tori (Nolan), Matthew, Lexi, Laura (Nick), Scott, and Ryan, and nine great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Cornelius & Mary Warkentin, brothers Jake & Peter (infancy).

Dad was born and raised on a farm in Rosengard, on Remembrance Day, 1941. He talked often about growing up in the wonderful rural community of Rosengard, surrounded by many family and friends, and the adventures of farm life. Dad learned to work hard from an early age, as was expected in that era. As a teenager he gained experience in many seasonal agricultural jobs. When he was 18, he began a job as a heavy equipment operator but soon after, met mom and decided to work more locally at Steinbach Dry Cleaning to pursue his love. He and mom married 2 years later on June 3, 1962. He accepted Jesus as his Savior in his younger years but rededicated his life and became baptized in spring of 1963. They had their first child in November, 1963. Then with his young family, he moved to Morris and became a manager in a retail store. His mother always said he had an old soul and this job brought an awareness of his social talents. Their second child was born in 1966 and they moved to Winnipeg, where dad started a job at Quintin’s Dry Cleaning, dealing with customers as a delivery driver. They had their third child and dad began schooling to earn his third class engineering ticket. This allowed him to take a management position at Martinizing Dry Cleaning. He enjoyed this job and stayed there until he purchased the family farm (in Rosengard), moved there in 1974, and began attending the Rosengard Chortitzer Mennonite Church. They built a dairy farm and had their fourth child in 1975. He accepted the call to be a deacon in early 1977, and celebrated the birth of their last child in March.

He found joy in working in the church in many facets-as a deacon, as a youth leader, as a treasurer and a conference deacon. He found great joy in his new title as Grandpa in June of 1987 and celebrated the birth of each of his 15 grandchildren. He began a new chapter of his life when he was elected to serve the Kleefeld ward as a councillor in the RM of Hanover in 1995. This began an 11 year public service job which he really enjoyed. Prior to retirement dad became a real estate agent for a number of years. During their retirement years, dad & mom celebrated the arrival of nine great-grandchildren.

Dad’s passion for serving the community led him to serve on several boards which included Bothwell Cheese, Roseau River Bible Camp, the local PC board, Mennonite Heritage Village, the Provincial Vet board, the Land Value Appraisal Commission, and the Canadian Sunday School Mission.

In the last 30 years, Dad faced many health issues. Throughout all of this he always faced everything with optimism and a “farmboy” toughness.

We want to thank the many healthcare workers at Bethesda, St. Boniface and HSC.

The come & go viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

The livestreamed memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

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