Obituary of Peter G. Unrau

Peacefully, Peter Unrau passed away on September 25, 2024, at Boundary Trails Health Centre near Winkler, MB, at the age of 98 years. Peter is survived by Mary, his belove wife of almost 72 years, one brother, Dick (Tina) and two sisters, Mary (Wilf Demke – deceased) and Eva (John Harder) He also is survived by his son Neil (Genny); three daughters, Annie (Ric), Kathy (Bear), and Dorothy (Abe); nine grandchildren, Savannah (Marko), Aggie (Steven), Lisa, Heather, Amanda (Dave), Talia, Elisa, Samuel, Timothy; and one greatgrandchild, Violet and one step great-grandchild, Eve. Peter is predeceased by one brother, John, who passed away in 2005; one sister, Annie, who died at the age of seven and five more siblings who died as infants. Peter was born in his grandmother’s home on farm near Plum Coulee but moved with his family as a very young child to a farm near Lowe Farm where he grew to adulthood and where he also farmed until 1991. He was baptized into the Kronsweide Sommerfelder Church in 1947. Peter met Mary Derksen, the love of his life in the fall of 1951, when they were both working in southern Ontario for a few months. Peter and Mary were married at Lichtenau Mennonite Church at Ste. Elizabeth in October 1952. Throughout the 1960s and on, Peter participated more fully in the Kronsweide Sommerfelder Church, serving at various times as Sunday School teacher, youth leader, sound man, head usher, song leader, board member, and annual dues collector. He continued farming as well, from 1953 until he and Mary moved to Morris in 1991. While Iiving in Morris he worked as the Volunteer Manager at the MCC Thrift store from 1991 to 2006, continuing to volunteer until he decided to “retire” at the age of 96 in 2022. Even in “retirement”, he still went back to the store four times a week to help wherever possible until October 2023. The funeral service will be held Monday, September 30, 2024, 2:00 p.m. at Kronsweide Sommerfelder Church with interment at the Kronsweide Church cemetery. Viewing will be held Sunday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Morris Funeral Home and at the church prior to the funefal service. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Boundary Trails Health Centre for the sensitive and compassionate care they provided for our loved one during his last week on earth. In Peter Unrau’s memory donations can be made to Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba or to the Canadian Bible Society.