William "Bill" Martin Schlichting

William Martin Schlichting, of Kelowna, B.C., passed away peacefully at the Kelowna General Hospital on April 3rd., 2016, at the age of 97. He was born in East Prussia on September 14, 1918 to Martin and Elizabeth Schlichting. His family moved to Manitoba when he was five years old. He grew up on his parents’ farm near Morden Manitoba. He was baptized in the Morden Bergthaler Mennonite Church, and as a Mennonite, faithful to his convictions, he served Canada as a conscientious objector during WWII. He married Susie Rempel in 1945, and shortly after they took up farming near Sanford Manitoba. It was there that their seven children were born. They faithfully served the Springstein Mennonite Church where William (Bill) served many years as Sunday School teacher and superintendent. For health reasons, Bill was forced to give up farming, and in 1970 they moved to Kelowna B.C. together with their youngest three children. For the remainder of his working years, he did maintenance, property management, and later janitorial work for the Kelowna Gospel Fellowship (KGF). He and Susie also spent several years managing the MCC Thrift store in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Susie, his wife of 44 years, predeceased him in 1989. He married Esther Isaak in 1990. They enjoyed almost 26 years together, faithfully serving the church (including being deacons at KGF), enjoying their family, and dedicating many volunteer hours to the MCC Thrift store. Bill also received a certificate of merit for 20 years of voluntary service at the Kelowna General Hospital.

He is survived by his loving family: wife Esther; and his seven children, Esther (Cornie) Krahn; Leonard (Jon) Schlichting, Kenneth (Gwen) Schlichting Wellington; Marvin Schlichting; Carl Schlichting; John Schlichting; Lynette Schlichting; seven grandchildren, Milton (Linda) Krahn; Wendell (Jolinn) Krahn; Lorena (Tim) Davis; Mark (Erika) Schlichting; Christina (Byron) Baranieski; Andreas (Sonja) Schlichting; Simone (Steve) Schlichting; fifteen great grandchildren; Tyler, Justin, Sydney, Andrew, Michelle (Krahn); Kyla, Alara (Krahn); Myles, Arianna, Nevon (Davis); Katelyn, Averie (Schlichting); Blake, Sienna (Baranieski); Elias, Lucia, Marinus (Schlichting) and Drinnon Schlichting (Fisher); Siblings Henry (Nellie) Schlichting, Anne Dyck; Trudy Rempel; Bertha Dahl and Adolf (Betty) Schlichting.

He is predeceased by his first wife Susie (Rempel); sisters Lena Borne, Elsie Petkau, Ella Dyck; and brother Helmut Schlichting.

A visitation for the comfort of family and friends will be held from noon to 1:00 pm, Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Kelowna Gospel Fellowship, 3714 Gordon Drive, Kelowna, BC. A funeral service will follow at 1:30 pm, Wednesday, April 6, 2016, also at Kelowna Gospel Fellowship. Burial will follow the funeral service, at 3:00 pm, Wednesday April 6, 2016 at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 2850 Dry Valley Road, Kelowna, BC.

Memorial donations in Bill's name may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, #201 - 33933 Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2E8 (www.mccbc.ca).