Tina Warkentin

Tina Warkentin was born Katharina Wiebe on November 14, 1925, one of nine children to Peter and Anna Wiebe in the Mennonite colony of Gnadenfeld in what is now known as the Ukraine. Early on she preferred the name Tina which eventually would become her legal name. It was a difficult time to be both a German and a landowner in the Soviet Union as the Red Terror was in full effect. World War 2 would tear her family apart, forcing her with her parents to flee for their lives to Germany amidst the closing days of the war. Now homeless, her parents, two brothers and two sisters were offered residency by Paraguay -- the only country to accept them. Two siblings who they had lost contact with were left behind to unknown fates in the Soviet Union.

Arriving in Paraguay with not much more than the clothes on their backs, they were warmly received by the Mennonite families which had already begun eking out a life in the Paraguayan wilderness. This would be a temporary but important stop in her life because here she would meet John Warkentin who had been sent by his father to assist the new families in Paraguay. Seeing no future there, Tina immigrated to Canada with her parents and siblings. John would follow the love of his life and they would marry on November 15, 1958 in Winnipeg.

Starting a new life in Canada with nothing, the young couple took in Tina’s parents and always welcomed family and friends in need of a place to stay. Tina was a devoted wife, daughter and then mother as soon three children were born.

Faith was always an important part of the home, attending and volunteering at the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church.

Tina’s husband John passed away on February 22, 2013. After several battles with illness, Tina eventually came to live in Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home. She passed peacefully on July 5, 2026. The family takes comfort in knowing she has passed to the loving care of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Tina is survived by her children: Anne (Ben), Aggie (Leif) and Hans (Vicky); four grandchildren: Zachary, Emily (Wyatt), Kirstin and Alyssa; and two great-grandchildren: Casey and Carter.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff in Bethania for the care they gave her and the love and compassion they showed her in the later years of her life.