Tribute

Margarete’s life began in 1950 in what was then West Germany.  Two years later her family moved to Canada, first to Winnipeg and then to Surrey, BC.  She excelled in high school and SFU due to a natural love of learning and a strong work ethic, qualities that would come to the fore again in her fifties when she completed academic credentials at Trinity Western University: a TESL certificate (Teaching English as a second language) and a BA “with great distinction.”

While devoting herself to her family as a homemaker, Margarete was always a natural teacher, and found much fulfillment in teaching international students, especially during her twelve years at Pacific Academy in Surrey.

In 1974 she met Arthur Enns and, after a brief courtship, they were married and settled in Vancouver’s West End where Arthur worked at a radio station.  The years that followed included the birth of their three children, increased involvement in church ministry, and a move to Vernon in 1980 where Arthur served as pastor of Vernon Christian Fellowship.

As usual, Margarete wore many “hats” during the twelve years in Vernon:  mother of three active children (whom she home-schooled one year), pastor’s wife, church secretary, part-time teacher at King’s School, volunteer at the Problem Pregnancy Centre, part-time student at Okanagan College, and wife of someone whose responsibilities had grown to include the chairmanship of Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

After moving back to the Lower Mainland, Margarete continued her education at TWU and began work as an ESL teacher, while Arthur served as Administrator (and later CEO) at Menno Place in Abbotsford.  She was successfully treated for breast cancer in 1999, and went on to demonstrate a zest for life that included ziplining with her students at RockRidge Canyon and skydiving from 13,000 feet to celebrate her 60th birthday.

While Margarete was a woman of many talents—from cooking and baking to interior design and music—she is remembered most for who she was: a loving wife, a devoted mother and grandmother; a kind and compassionate friend; a wise counselor; and the best of companions.  But she would be quick to attribute anything good to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom she drew closer each year, as evidenced by her devotion to the Word of God and her composition of 50 personal worship songs in recent years.

In November 2012 Margarete was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer.  What followed was a journey of suffering and faith, accompanied by incredible support from family, church, and a host of friends who prayed, encouraged and helped in practical ways.  Despite the grim prognosis, Arthur and Margarete were able to fulfill a post-retirement dream by moving to the West End near English Bay, where they enjoyed many beautiful sunsets and walks on the seawall.  On October 9, 2013, after a week in St. Paul’s Hospital, Margarete passed away peacefully into the presence of her Lord, surrounded by family and friends.

She was predeceased by her mother Margarete Martens, her mother-in-law Annie Enns, and her sister-in-law Margaret Born.

Margarete leaves to mourn her husband Arthur; daughter Esther (Peter); son Jesse (Elizabeth); daughter Ruth (Kevin); eight grandchildren—Larissa, Ben, Dylan, Ethan, Micah, Asher, Julianna and Jack; father Jacob Martens; brother Jake (Elsie) and sister Ingrid (Keith); sister-in-law Esther (Norman); brother-in-law David (Doreen); brother-in-law Richard (Carol); former brother-in-law Walter (Jeanette); father-in-law Henry Enns; and numerous nieces and nephews.