Louise Willms

Mom was born in the summer of 1933, sixth of eight children to a poor immigrant couple who had recently escaped the Russian revolution. The setting was Crowfoot, Alberta during the height of the Great Depression. After ten years there, they moved to Lindbrook, Alberta where they tried to restart their farm. Whether it was the hardship of those days or a calling, Mom always wanted something different. To minister to others and perhaps become a missionary to China or a teacher in Africa.

A major change in Mom’s life came at the age of twelve when her mother died and her father remarried. She never felt that she could talk to her second mother and at this young age vowed that if God would ever allow her to have children, she would seek to talk things through with them and not subject them to guessing what she thought. This became true in the lives of her children. Lots of sharing and never wondering what Mom thought on an issue!

While Mom never made it to China or Africa, she did serve the world in her version of Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. This included a month-long trip to visit and minister to missionaries in Southeast Asia, to leading numerous women’s Bible Studies, to faithfully serving with her husband Rudie in pastoral leadership for 50+ years, to showing regular hospitality to many throughout the years, to raising children and their children that serve in both local and international settings. The legacy continues.

Mom had a deep and personal relationship with God. When she was nine, two traveling preachers came to their house and she accepted Jesus into her heart. Immediately, she ran outside to her older brother Peter to tell him what had happened and then asked him if he didn’t want to become a Christian too. He said “yes” and so began Mom’s evangelistic bent.

Mom believed in being prepared. She was educated. She took grades nine through twelve in one year and then took her Grade Thirteen and Teacher’s College at UBC and set off on her teaching career. However, in 1959, she received a letter and was dumbfounded to read a marriage proposal from Rudie, to see if she might consider walking with him through life. Later in life, they talked about this moment and found that Dad had not asked her previously because he thought she was too dedicated to missionary service and did not want to distract her, and she had thought he was too pious that he wouldn’t even look at her as a possible mate. When they finally uttered the words… “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part”, they had no idea what lay ahead. But they took those words to heart and lived them together passionately for the next 61 years of adventure and challenge.

Together with her husband Rudie, they sensed a call to church ministry, a passion which would become the driving focus of their lives. Together they launched a small church in Winnipeg, and ultimately, they chose to serve in the local church as pastor/shepherd for over 60 years. They served in Winnipeg, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, Vancouver and St Catharines often for more than 10 years at each location. United in this vision with her husband Rudie, they opened their home and lives for any and all.

Mom loved her family, raising three rambunctious boys. Her family was her top priority and she spent her focused efforts on training them in the way they should go. She was always available to listen and advise. She raised three boys to become involved in ministry in their own ways, and all of them follow Jesus with all their heart. That was her goal and this was engrained into them as was the importance of getting together as a family. As the boys got married and started raising their families, the priority of gathering continued. Even as the boys scattered across the continent, getting together every 3 years became a priority even if it meant having Christmas in July!

Mom’s last years were challenging. She spent several years dealing with Dad’s Alzheimer’s disease, faithfully visiting him every day making the long trek from her room in Menno Place to the special unit where Dad lived the last years of his life. After Dad passed away in 2020 during the lockdowns, Mom continued to live semi-independently. She spent the last year of her life at Langley Lodge where she was recognized for being the resident that received the most visitors of anyone else in the home. She was loved by the residents and the staff.

On October 21st at 9:55pm Mom quietly and peacefully slipped into the presence of her Savior. Her son Ed and his wife Karin were present at her last breath. Roger and his wife Rhonda arrived shortly thereafter as did her third son Barry, who arrived from Nashville. We rejoice and take comfort that she was welcomed into glory with the words “well done, good and faithful servant.” Her wish to ‘go home’ was finally granted. She has reconnected with her husband Rudie and other family members that have gone before. Her body has been fully restored.

Louise was preceded in death by her loving husband, Rudie, and survived by her sister Anne (Rey); as well as his three sons, Ed (Karin), Roger (Rhonda) and Barry (Lynda). Beloved grandmother of Kiersten (Eric), Josh (Alisha), Alicia (Joshua), Renee, Jennie (Benjamin), Jonathan (Shara), Ben (Alesha), Breanna, Zachary, Daniel (Meyri) and Josiah; and proud great-grandmother of 14. We look forward to meeting again. Love you, Mom!

In lieu of flowers the family would like to encourage donations to Langley Lodge. We are so grateful for the loving care that Louise received from the staff and chaplains. You can donate here: https://langleylodge.org/donate/

A visitation for Louise will be held Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 2310 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T2X5. A memorial service will occur Friday, October 27, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com for the Willms family.