Obituary for Alvin F. Loewen
We as Alvin’s loving wife and family rejoice! After years of being wheelchair bound, taking endless dreaded medication, and suffering the loss of communication abilities, he is free! Free to run on legs that never grow weary, enjoying perfect health and a clear mind!
Alvin was born to Cornelius & Elizabeth Loewen on December 3, 1954 in Morris, Manitoba. He was the ninth of fifteen siblings, five of which had passed away before he was born. In 1958, he moved with his family to a new settlement in Riverton, Manitoba. Dad started his schooling at Woodglen School, then finished in Mennville School. He was baptized upon the confession of his faith on January 13, 1969.
Dad met our Mom, Irene, in 1976 when Dad started attending her youth group. Mom was immediately drawn to Dad’s strong leadership capabilities. They were engaged in June of 1978 and exchanged wedding vows on September 30 of that year. That winter they lived in a little shack up north where Dad worked for a logging company. They then settled down on their farm in Arborg, Manitoba, where Dad was self-employed as a carpenter for many years. During this time the Lord blessed them with 6 children. Dad was a jack of all trades, loved creating things, and could fix almost anything. He is remembered for his servant’s heart. Mom remembers Dad often coming in after a shopping trip and helping her put away the piles of groceries. At community events, he was often the first person to grab a broom and start cleaning up after a meal. In the late ‘80s, Dad started working at Diemo, where he worked for a total of more than 20 years. During this time, he also tried his hand at beekeeping and spent several more years doing carpentry.
In 2003, Mom started noticing some changes in Dad’s health. His health and mobility continued to slowly decline, and in November 2008, Mom and Dad went to a clinic in Mexico with hopes of finding some answers. There he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. By September of 2015, his mental and mobile capacities had declined enough that he was unable to continue his job at Diemo. In December he was admitted to the hospital due to a fall and blood clot in his leg. His condition required more care than we were able to provide at home, so he stayed in the hospital until May, when a spot opened up for him to be transferred to the personal care home. It was not too long after this that due to ongoing mental symptoms, his primary diagnosis was changed to Lewy Body Dementia. Though his mind continued to fail, Dad’s love for singing remained. Even in the last days of his life when little else he said made sense, Mom would start singing and Dad would immediately join her in his tenor voice. In times of prayer, Dad would close his eyes and though we couldn’t understand the words, it was obvious that he was talking to his Lord.
In late August of this year his condition declined still further, so the PCH changed him from medical care to comfort care. The night of September 13, Mom got a call saying that his breathing had changed for the worse. Most of the family was able to spend time with him in those last hours, and Tuesday morning, September 15, he peacefully passed on to his eternal reward.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Cornelius & Elizabeth Loewen, and brother Henry Loewen, as well as siblings Peter, Annie, Alva, Margaret, and Mathilda who died in their early childhood.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Irene, and children: Jeff (Sharon) Loewen, Terry (Myrna) Loewen, Nathan (Sandra) Loewen, Angela Loewen, Shelaine (Alonso) Sawatzky, and Cordell (Lori) Loewen, 22 grandchildren including Angela’s three foster children, as well as his and Irene’s siblings, their families, and many friends.
Alvin was born to Cornelius & Elizabeth Loewen on December 3, 1954 in Morris, Manitoba. He was the ninth of fifteen siblings, five of which had passed away before he was born. In 1958, he moved with his family to a new settlement in Riverton, Manitoba. Dad started his schooling at Woodglen School, then finished in Mennville School. He was baptized upon the confession of his faith on January 13, 1969.
Dad met our Mom, Irene, in 1976 when Dad started attending her youth group. Mom was immediately drawn to Dad’s strong leadership capabilities. They were engaged in June of 1978 and exchanged wedding vows on September 30 of that year. That winter they lived in a little shack up north where Dad worked for a logging company. They then settled down on their farm in Arborg, Manitoba, where Dad was self-employed as a carpenter for many years. During this time the Lord blessed them with 6 children. Dad was a jack of all trades, loved creating things, and could fix almost anything. He is remembered for his servant’s heart. Mom remembers Dad often coming in after a shopping trip and helping her put away the piles of groceries. At community events, he was often the first person to grab a broom and start cleaning up after a meal. In the late ‘80s, Dad started working at Diemo, where he worked for a total of more than 20 years. During this time, he also tried his hand at beekeeping and spent several more years doing carpentry.
In 2003, Mom started noticing some changes in Dad’s health. His health and mobility continued to slowly decline, and in November 2008, Mom and Dad went to a clinic in Mexico with hopes of finding some answers. There he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. By September of 2015, his mental and mobile capacities had declined enough that he was unable to continue his job at Diemo. In December he was admitted to the hospital due to a fall and blood clot in his leg. His condition required more care than we were able to provide at home, so he stayed in the hospital until May, when a spot opened up for him to be transferred to the personal care home. It was not too long after this that due to ongoing mental symptoms, his primary diagnosis was changed to Lewy Body Dementia. Though his mind continued to fail, Dad’s love for singing remained. Even in the last days of his life when little else he said made sense, Mom would start singing and Dad would immediately join her in his tenor voice. In times of prayer, Dad would close his eyes and though we couldn’t understand the words, it was obvious that he was talking to his Lord.
In late August of this year his condition declined still further, so the PCH changed him from medical care to comfort care. The night of September 13, Mom got a call saying that his breathing had changed for the worse. Most of the family was able to spend time with him in those last hours, and Tuesday morning, September 15, he peacefully passed on to his eternal reward.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Cornelius & Elizabeth Loewen, and brother Henry Loewen, as well as siblings Peter, Annie, Alva, Margaret, and Mathilda who died in their early childhood.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Irene, and children: Jeff (Sharon) Loewen, Terry (Myrna) Loewen, Nathan (Sandra) Loewen, Angela Loewen, Shelaine (Alonso) Sawatzky, and Cordell (Lori) Loewen, 22 grandchildren including Angela’s three foster children, as well as his and Irene’s siblings, their families, and many friends.