George "Gerhard" Siemens

George Siemens was born August 13, 1928 to Heinrich and Susanna (Braun) Siemens in Neuendorf, Chortiza, Ukraine. He was the fifth child and all his siblings: Heinrich, Tina, Dietrich, Suse, Margaret, Mika and Peter predeceased him. He outlived his sister Margaret by only four months, both ending their earthly journeys at Primrose Gardens and from Holmberg Hospice House.

As much as he wanted to attend his great-grandson’s wedding, he waited to leave us physically till his wife Maria visited him for the last time after the wedding ceremony. Then he peacefully left for his own reception into his eternal home and Jesus’ loving arms during his great-grandson’s wedding reception. It was God’s time to welcome Christ’s bride, George Siemens, home on May 23, 2026.

George believed that reading the Bible daily and following Christ was very important. On Dec 7, 1947 he was baptized confessing his faith and forgiveness of sins through Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection. He firmly believed in loving God with all his strength, heart, soul and mind and also loving his neighbour as he loved himself even during the hard refugee years fleeing from Stalin’s regime of terror. The family of just his mom and her youngest four children left Ukraine in October 1943 and eventually ended up in Gronau (Westfalen) in Germany in 1948. With the help of MCC both of George’s and Maria’s remaining family members boarded the Charlton Monarch heading for Paraguay.

Unfortunately, the ship was doomed with many electrical and engine breakdowns and eventually had to be towed to Buenos Aires. However this was a blessing in disguise. George had developed appendicitis and the crippled ship was now close enough to port so he could be tendered to shore for immediate surgery.

Passengers were then flown to Paraguay where George met the love of his life, Maria Penner. They were married August 15, 1953 and their oldest daughter Maria was born ten months later. The three of them emigrated to Canada in 1955. George was so proud that the three became 100 with the birth of his first great great grandchild almost 3 months ago. Family relationships were of utmost priority to him as was being self-employed as a farmer and the ability to provide meat, milk, eggs and raspberries for the community. He loved basking in God’s sunshine and being outdoors as long as possible weeding his vegetable and flower gardens.

George was also very involved in his faith community serving many years as a fundraiser, carpenter, landscaper, teacher and deacon at Eben Ezer Mennonite church. He was often heard playing his harmonica and singing with Maria as they visited the lonely, sick and comforted the dying. He also spent 25 years as a volunteer at Menno Place and 20 years with the Gleaners and rarely turned down an opportunity to help refugees or others less fortunate. His shoes of hardwork, generosity, faithfulness, sacrifice, etc. will be very difficult to fill.

George is survived by Maria his loving and faithful wife of 72 years, and their children: Maria Matty (Tom), Hilda Janzen (Ron), Gredel Schierling (Hart), George Siemens (Caroline) and Walter Siemens (Annette); his sister-in-law Mary Siemens; Maria’s brother Jake Penner( Helen) and sister Hilde Sawatsky; 17 grandchildren (16 spouses); 52 great- grandchildren (2 spouses); and one great-great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his 21 year old grandson, Derek Matty.

A Memorial Service will be held at Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church, 2051 Windsor St, Abbotsford, BC, on June 3, 2026, at 1:00 pm, with a livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3YX4NM-XHU.

Gerhard’s final resting place is Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery in Abbotsford.