Tribute

On Thursday, April 27th, 2023, Katherine “Kay” Goerzen, age 100, of Abbotsford, BC, went to
be with her Lord and Saviour. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Rudy Goerzen
on May 29, 2012. She leaves to mourn her passing one son Ric (Helen); two daughters; Carolyn
(Bruno) Braun and Rosalea (Don) Minosky; seven grandchildren: Brian (Paige) Goerzen, Jodi
Goerzen, Chad Braun, Cameron (Jess) Braun, Joel Braun, Jesse (Janine) Minosky and Luke
(Lucy) Minosky; three great grandchildren: Levi Minosky, Ellie Rose Minosky, and Leo
Minosky, as well as two sisters: Margret Dyck, and Hilda (Cornelius) Wiebe, and five sisters in-
law: Anne Dyck, Helen Braun, Doreen Braun, Delores Goerzen and Helen Ann Goerzen, along
with numerous nieces and nephews.
Kay was born in Arkadak, South Russia, (now Ukraine) on February 26, 1923. She immigrated
to Manitoba in 1925 with her parents, Helena and Johann Braun. She lived and went to school in
Schoenwiese and Rosenort (now Rosetown) in southern Manitoba. At age 14, she accepted Jesus
as her Lord and Saviour and, upon confession of her faith, she was baptized into the Blumenorter
Mennonite Church in Rosenort, Manitoba.
After living and working in Winnipeg, as well as taking high school courses, she met and
married Rudy Goerzen of Starbuck, Manitoba on May 31 st , 1947. They bought and settled on a
320 acre farm southwest of Starbuck. She became a pastor’s wife when Rudy received a call to
serve as a minister in the Springstein Mennonite Church. During the next 18 years she supported
her husband on the farm, as well serving as a pastor’s wife. During this time she also kept busy
raising her young family of three.
In July of 1966, they left farming and moved to Aldergrove, BC, where Rudy accepted the
position of pastor of Bethel Mennonite Church. Kay again embraced her role of serving the
church in various capacities. After nine years, they moved to Surrey, BC to serve at Cedar Hills
Mennonite Church in the same capacity until their retirement in 1982. In 1992, they sold their
house in Surrey and moved into a condo (it had to have a pool) in Abbotsford.
Kay was always a pleasure to be around. She loved to entertain, and over the years hosted many
visitors, especially those from Manitoba, Her passions were swimming and walking, especially
during her retirement years, as well as going on many trips throughout North America, and
Europe, often travelling with family or friends.
Kay was always smiling and her infectious personality made it a pleasure to be around her.
Kay’s strong faith and belief in Jesus Christ as her Saviour, made her a prayer warrior for her
family, and anyone else she came in contact with. She will be missed. We love you, Mom,
Grandma, and Great grandma.
The funeral service for Kay Goerzen will be held Saturday, May 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Langley
Mennonite Fellowship, 20997 40 th Ave, Langley, BC, with Pastor Ian Funk officiating. A private
burial will be held prior to the Service. A heartfelt thank you is extended to all the care staff at
Fraser Health and Menno Hospital for the compassionate and loving care that they provided in
Terrace West during the Covid years, and in Menno Hospital in her last months and days.