Hans Loewen

Johann Lowen now known as Hans Loewen, was born to Maria & Jacob Lowen in Schonau, Ukraine on April 28, 1925. He lived with his parents until 1943 when they fled to Germany to get out of the Ukraine during the second world war. After they arrived in Germany, Dad was conscripted into the German Army as a Medic, and was eventually captured by the Americans, in Italy. He was held as a prisoner of war for 3 years, and while in that prison, a Low German speaking General took him under his wings. He was released from prison camp at the end of the second world war and travelled to Gronau, Germany. There he attended the Mennonite Brethren Church, in which he was baptized, upon the confession of his faith, on June 7, 1947. In searching for his family through MCC (Mennonite Central Committee), he discovered that MCC had already relocated them to Paraguay. In 1948 Dad was able to reunite with his family in Volendam, Paraguay. Dad then began the first of many challenges of life in a new country: language, clearing the rain forest for his homestead, learning to work with oxen and farming in a new climate. On April 29, 1950 he married his one and only love, Elfriede Richert (whom he knew as Sonja). They had three Paraguayan children…Helmut, Hildegard and Adelheit. With the assistance of family already living in Canada, they were able to immigrate to Yarrow in August 1956. Dad was able to secure a job as soon as they arrived, and over time the family grew by three more Canadian children: Luise, Rudy and Elfriede. In order to support this growing family, Dad and Mom acquired an acreage of land that they developed into a successful raspberry farm. Dad worked two jobs for many years: Guenther Door Factory and the raspberry/hobby farm. In 1978 he suffered his first heart attack and the surgery that followed requiring a quadruple by-pass. He was told, at that time, that life expectancy for that surgery was 10 years. How he proved them WRONG! Dad’s life was focused not only on family and hard work, but on church and his love for his Lord. He and Mom became members of the Yarrow MB Church in 1956, where they have remained faithful to this day. He was on the Nominations Committee and an usher, where he became well known for his firm and hearty handshake. In 2012, Dad experienced a cardiac arrest. But...as the strong willed man he was, he fully recovered. Dad was a true SURVIVOR. He leaves behind, his wife of 66 years, Elfriede, children, Helmut (Linda), Hildegard (John Boschmann), Adelheit (Rod Smith), Luise (Gerry Willems), Rudy (Pat) and Elfriede (Leo Jean), 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters and 2 brothers. He was predeceased by his parents, Jacob and Marie Loewen, brother Jacob and sister Annie Beher.