Tribute

Abe Konrad was born on March 22, 1926, in Irapuato, Mexico to Abraham and
Elizabeth Konrad who settled in Mexico briefly on their emigration to Canada from
Russia. They eventually settled in La Glace, a small village in the Peace River area of
Alberta. He grew up on a farm there, as the oldest son, with three brothers and four
sisters. He went to public school until grade 8 and then to Bible School for three years.
He accepted Jesus as saviour at evangelistic services in the La Glace Church at age
13, and was baptized and accepted into the church at age 18.
During the third year of Bible School, Abe felt the call from the Lord for a commitment
for ministry in His service. With the encouragement of his father, he responded to this
call and applied to the Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg to go there and
prepare for ministry. Before his second year in college, he fell in love with Mary Wiens
from the youth group and they agreed to write letters to each other, which developed
into a commitment for a life of being “Labourers together with God” and they were
married on July 16, 1952. They lived in college accommodation during Abe’s final year
of studies, then came back to La Glace where Abe did carpentry work and served in the
church which had ordained them to the ministry before the last year at MBBC.
During the summer of 1953, Abe was asked to serve as a teacher at the Coaldale Bible
School. While in Coaldale, Abe became a beloved teacher and enjoyed his time
directing choir. After seven years there, he felt the need for further training and he
returned to school, receiving a BA Degree from the University of Alberta and a BD
degree from MBBC. Abe answered a call from the MB Church in Leamington, Ontario,
where he served as pastor for 10 years, followed by 11 years at the Niverville, Manitoba
MB Church, and then 9 years at King Road Church in Abbotsford. He retired from full-
time ministry in 1994 at the age of 68.
Along the way, Abe and Mary were blessed with children, grandchildren, and great
grandchildren. Their first child, a girl named Edith, died at birth, and then they had five
sons: Alfred and Ernest (twins), Wilfred, Wesley, and Chester. During those years of
ministry, the children grew up and chose the paths for their own lives. Abe had the
special privilege as a pastor to baptize all five of their sons upon the confession of their
faith to follow the Lord.
After retirement, Abe and Mary moved to Winnipeg to be closer to the children and
grandchildren living in Manitoba. They bought a pickup truck and a fifth wheel camper
and made many trips to visit family and friends, including a trip to Prince Edward Island.
In Winnipeg, they joined the Portage Avenue MB Church, and when the lead pastor
received a call to missionary work in Germany, Abe served as interim pastor for about
three years. During this time, he also served as interim chaplain at the Donwood Care
Home. After living in Winnipeg for eight years, they decided to move to Kelowna in 2003
and lived there for about five years, enjoying closer fellowship with Mary’s sister

Margaret and her husband, as well as Abe’s sister Irene and her family. In 2008, they
moved back to Abbotsford where they purchased a condo in the Green Gables building
on Old Yale Road. They rejoined the King Road Church and were happy to fellowship
and renew friendships from former years.
They enjoyed relatively good health and were able to keep in touch with family and
friends. Over time, Mary began to experience both physical and mental decline and she
passed away on May 11, 2020, at the age of 90, leaving Abe alone after almost 68
years of marriage. He lived in their condo for almost two years before moving to Tabor
Court where he made friends and charmed the staff with his gentle kindness. While he
remained apparently healthy and was able to continue his daily walks around the
property until his last day at Tabor, on March 15, he was diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer. He moved to Holmberg House Hospice in Abbotsford where he celebrated his
98 th birthday with some of his children and grandchildren. He passed away peacefully on
Saturday, April 6, with friends and family at his side.
Abe is predeceased by his wife Mary; daughter Edith; siblings Henry, Elizabeth, Jake,
Hulda, and Dan; and his grandson, Dominic. He is survived by his sisters Helen and
Irene, and his five boys and their families. Alfred; Ernest (Tia); Wilfred (Angela), with
daughters, Delaney (Aldo), and Franklyn; Wesley (Valerie), with daughter Jennifer, and
sons Ryan (Chastidy) and children Noah, Bentley, and Tucker; and Dylan (Ruth);
Chester (Pauline) with daughter Brittany (Karl), and children Ashley and Carter; and
sons Tyler, and Nathan, (Mara).
Many thanks to the staff at Tabor Court and Holmberg House Hospice, as well as to Dr.
Marylu Loewen, for their care and compassion.
Donations can be made in Abe’s memory to Mennonite Central Committee.