Bernhard Mervin Loewen

Ben was born on September 8, 1944, in Abbotsford, BC, to Abram and Eleanor Loewen. He came to join four older sisters, Alfrieda, Marina, Katherine and Arlene. Ben was the first of six boys: Harry, Roy, Marvin, Dan and Dale followed.

Ben helped with the family dairy milking cows, but especially liked driving the tractor. So, any chore involving the tractor, was his first choice. Hoeing an picking beans and hoeing corn was not his choice but it had to be done!

In May 1948 the family farm on Harris Road was flooded. The family found refuge at the Abbotsford Airport for 2 1/2 months. The children had lots of fun playing with other families. It is rumored that the loud speaker came on a number of times looking for a four year old called Benny. His adventurous spirit often led him away from the family surroundings.

Ben started working off the family farm when he was seventeen at $1 per hour. A year later he worked for HB Construction putting in city sewer and water lines around B.C. Later he worked for a local excavating company and eventually bought the company in March 1968 and became owner and operator of his own business.

Ben committed his life to the Lord in his teenage years and was baptized by Matsqui MB Church in 1964. He joined the choir as a tenor, but was soon moved to the baritone section. He loved to sing even though he could not read notes. Ben sang in church, community, male choirs, and quartets. Ben and Sharon's date nights were spent at choir practice learning and singing.

Ben met Sharon through mutual friends, even though they went to the same church and were married in July 1967 at the Matsqui MB Church on a Friday night. Ben bought an acreage in Matsqui Prairie to bring his bride home to. Four children were born to them there: Bernie, Rachelle, Darren and Trevor.

In 1978, Ben and Sharon bought a chicken (egg laying) farm in Bradner and started attending the Ross Road Church.

They lived on this farm for the next 37 years, raising their children. Ben continued on with his excavating work and son Darren joined him after he graduated in 1990.

In 2015, Darren took over the family farm and Ben and Sharon moved to Smith Ave., where Ben started a gravel pit business. He was still working every day enjoying the machines in the big sand and gravel box he had created. Sons, Darren and Trevor worked with him until he entered the hospital.

Ben was an enthusiastic worker. He would be up at dawn and looked forward to starting his day whatever it would bring. He was very generous to his family providing more than they needed! In 2017, Ben was invited by Neil Matthies to come to sing in the Clearbrook Singing Men. He was excited to join the group and was soon part of a quartet. It was at this time that Ben and Sharon were drawn to Clearbrook MB Church to take part in the singing ministry.

He is predeceased by parents, Abe and Eleanor Loewen, sisters Alfrieda and Arlene. Lovingly remembered by wife of 54 years, Sharon, children Bernie, Rachelle (Karl Dyck), Darren (Elissa), and Trevor (Lisa), 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

*For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3: 14-21

Visitations will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home, Thursday January 20th for family 7-8:00pm and open to friends from 8-9:00pm.

A graveside service for Bernhard will be held Friday, January 21st, 2022 at 11:00 AM, at Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 PM at the Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church.

In memory of Ben, donations may be made to the Mennonite Disaster Fund designated for the Sumas flood.

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