Tribute

John A. Kaiser of Abbotsford, BC — beloved husband, friend, relative, family member, counsellor, and pastor to many over his 91 years —  slipped into the arms of Jesus on Oct. 14, 2023, leaving a legacy of love and faith. He was born in Vulcan, Alberta July 1, 1932 to Alexander and Mollie Kaiser and grew up on a farm with siblings Henry, Alex, David, Sam, Leo, Eileen, Sophie and Betty.

In 1950, he attended Hillcrest Christian College in Medicine Hat, where he met his life partner, Alma Braun. They ventured into pastoral ministry together at various churches across Saskatchewan and Alberta. John pastored the EUB Norwood & Little Plume churches from 1964 – 1070. Along the way, John was buoyed by his family and particularly by Alma. She provided energy, support, administrative abilities, and kept the home fires burning. He gained many friends along the way (many life-long) as he pastored, counselled, ministered; he and Alma seemed to have the uncanny ability to make friends everywhere they went.

Between pastoring full-time and doing extra work to support the family, John managed to complete a BA from the University of Saskatchewan, a Masters of  Divinity from the Lutheran Seminary in Saskatoon, and a PhD in counselling. In 1987, he retired from pastoral work, settling in Surrey, BC and began to engage in full time counselling, with the occasional call to EUB churches in Richmond, Vancouver and Chilliwack. His final move was to Abbotsford where his life was filled with family and friends, and serving with Gleaners (a food sustainability group) and M2W2 (a prison ministry).

Although a quiet, gentle man, he totally enjoyed people and being with them. To many, he was a shelter, and a safe place. He enjoyed music, often singing with his brothers, in church quartets, and touring with Shepherds Voices.

He was always up for a game of Queen Mama or Triominoes– or almost any game, for that matter. He thoroughly enjoyed being a grandfather and had endless opportunities to attend basketball, hockey, volleyball, lacrosse and soccer games. His growing brood of 10 grandchildren and some 26 really great-grandchildren filled the twilight years of his life with joy and happiness.

He has been called gentle, caring, dutiful, musical, peacemaker, forerunner, interested in politics, earnest, diligent, lover of God, and faithful. Many of these qualities became evidently manifest in his daily visits and care of Alma after she was moved from their home due to her struggle with dementia.

The family thanks the staff at Tabor for their diligent care and support of John in his final days and their ongoing care of Alma not to mention their patience and kindness to each of us children.  A big thank you to the residents of Tabor who truly included Dad and Mom in their family. We are also grateful for the staff at Fraser Health and Abbotsford Regional Hospital – Cheam 2 for their understanding and flexibility in the final days of Dad’s life. John is survived by his wife Alma of Abbotsford with whom he had just celebrated 71 years together a few days before his passing (married Oct. 10, 1952); daughters:   Caralee (Abbotsford, BC); Leanne (Ben) Preiss of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Donalyn (Dave) Currie of Abbotsford, BC; Brenda (Mike) Patterson of Fallbrook, California and son Bev (Joan) Kaiser of Surrey, BC.

He is also survived by siblings and in-laws: Sam (Marilyn) of Kelowna; Leo (Diana) of Vulcan; sister-in-law Priscilla (Weir) of Kelowna; and brother-in-law Elmer Gerhardt of Portland, Oregon. And innumerable nieces and nephews.

His greatest joy would be to be greeted in Heaven by grandson, Justin; parents Mollie and Alexander; siblings and their spouses Alex (Stevie); Henry (Marianne); Eileen (Lorne); Sophie (Dan); Betty and David.

A celebration of this incredible, long, blessed life will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Clearbrook Mennonite Church, Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC at 1:30 p.m. with a live link available.