Tribute

At 7:30 Thursday evening, July 14, 2025, Abe Buhler, aged 97, left us to be with the Lord. He was born to Peter and Katherina Buhler on September 4, 1927 in Schanzenfeld, Manitoba.

Abe’s true passion in life was to be a pastor. His bent for the ministry was already acknowledged by a friend before he was 13 years old, who said, “You’re going to be a preacher someday”. He graduated from Bethel Bible Institute and shortly became in great demand to preach in various churches, even being voted in as a lay pastor at West Abbotsford Mennonite church before he was 30 years old. After attending Canadian Mennonite Bible College, he pastored five churches; Bethany Mennonite in Lost River, Saskatchewan, Olivet Mennonite Church in Abbotsford, First Mennonite Church in Burns Lake, Carrot River Mennonite Church in Carrot River, Saskatchewan, and Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church as an interim in Abbotsford after retirement. Throughout his years in ministry, he mentored many young people to serve in church ministry, including his son, Tim, who became a missionary in China with his wife Cindy.

Abe grew up in cold southern Manitoba, where ice skating, playing hockey on frozen ponds, and hunting for food that would feed the family were part of everyday life. He shot his first deer when he was 14 years old, and bagged a moose all 7 years in Burns Lake and more in Carrot River. After retirement, Mom and Dad drove many miles in their little truck and camper, visiting family and friends or simply enjoying the mountains. Dad took up woodworking; for high school graduation, all the grand girls got hope chests and the boys desks, to name a few. It was hard to leave his workshop behind when they moved to Primrose.

Abe is preceded in death by his wife Mary, father Peter, mother Katharina, step mother Anna, siblings John, Tina, Peter, Lena, and Sarah, their spouses, and nephew Peter Buhler. He is survived by his sister Mary Neufeld, children Linda, Rosanna, Charlotte and Tim. He was grandpa to 10 grandchildren and great-grandpa to 20 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, the 21st of July 2025, at Clearbrook MB Church.