Mary Zielke

Mary Zielke was born in Ukraine, in the village of Schatki, on Saturday, November 7th, 1925. She had two older sisters, Olga and Linda, a younger brother, Fred, and is survived by two younger sisters, Lilli and Emilie (Alfred S.). Her parents and siblings knew Mary as Marichen! It’s even written that way on her Certificate of Canadian Citizenship.

Her grandparents, Ludwig and Karoliene (Messerling) Matter, owned a windmill in Dobrin, Ukraine. Her other grandparents, Johann and Berta (Suffke) Neske were born respectively in Briesen, West Prussia and in Friedrichshof, East Prussia. Mary’s great grandfather was Paul Neske. Her parents, Emil and Emma (Matter) Neske operated their own farm from 1922-1928 until the Soviet Union government cooperatives, called kolkhoz, took over and imposed difficult production quotas. Because of Emil’s firm and steadfast faith in God the communists banished him to prison in 1937 – the family was never to see him again. Due to the advancement of the Red Army, Emma and her six children fled to the West in 1943 and eventually arrived in Babenwald, Poland. The war was cruel, and it was at Babenwald that Mary was separated from the rest of her family. In 1945 she arrived in Schmega, Germany and the remainder of her family was deported on train boxcars to the village of Akuticha, Siberia. 34 years later Marichen was able to see her siblings again.

Mary accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour and was baptized by Reverend Klutich in the Jeetzel River at Luchow (Wendland), Germany on June 9, 1946. It was a beautiful, sunny day and many people in boats would stop and watch the full immersion baptism confessions of faith occurring that day.

Mary immigrated to Canada in 1952 and married the love of her life, Arnold Zielke, on November 7, 1953, in the Bridgeland Baptist Church, Calgary; married by Reverend Erwin Fauel. Together Mary and Arnold attended and served at Temple Baptist Church for over 60 years, and God blessed them with two sons Alfred (Karin) and Walter (Marlis), four grandsons Rodney, Terry & Tania, Stephen (Sarah) and Jeffrey, and one very sweet great-granddaughter, Lenora.

Mary and Arnold loved to share adventures with others and went on many camping and fishing trips with family and friends. Together they hosted countless meals in their Parkdale and Silver Springs homes. Mary was a cancer survivor! While they were still able to, Arnold and Marichen would sit at their kitchen table together, and daily read from the Bible and pray for their family and the many people that were in their lives. After 66 years of marriage Arnold passed in 2020. To the end of their days; No matter what the circumstances … with a thankful heart they (she) would Praise the Lord!

A Visitation Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Graveside service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.

A Funeral Service will be held at Renfrew Baptist Church, 1204 Renfrew Dr N.E., Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.