Obituary for Gerald Frank Reimer
Gerald Frank Reimer
March 9, 1938-July 6, 2022
A celebration of Gerald’s life will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church at 500 Lagimodiere Blvd. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to Union Gospel Mission in his honour.
Gerald Frank Reimer passed peacefully into Heaven on July 6, 2022 after suffering a heart attack two weeks prior. Gerald is survived by his wife, June, son, Darcy (Tara) Reimer, daughter, Sheri (Merlin) Braun, grandchildren, Kristen, Matthew, Hannah and Josh, brothers Delbert (Noreen) Reimer, Donald (Anne) Reimer and sister Grace (Ken) Betzold. He was predeceased by his mom, Margaret Penner Reimer and his dad, Frank Friesen Reimer.
Dad was 9 years old when he invited Jesus into his life and from that day forward, he was truly someone who let the imprint of God touch all aspects of his life. No matter what he did, (and he was always busy doing something!), he always desired to do it to the best of his ability and to the glory of God.
There was nothing more precious to dad than Jesus, but running a very close second was his family. Dad married mom on June 11, 1960, with his son Darcy, born on November 4, 1963 and daughter, Sheri, born on September 25, 1966. Dad was really a kid at heart for his entire life, and that made our family trips a whole lot of fun. Whenever we would go on road trips, he was the one wanting to stop for ice cream every afternoon, pulling into crazy little roadside attractions to take a driving break and booking hotels with pools so our evenings were full of fun. When the grandkids came along, dad was the one who was willing to go on the twisty carnival rides with them. He also loved taking them on fun outings, especially if they involved food! So many great memories were also built when the entire family went away together at Thanksgiving for 35 consecutive years. Every year, everyone was there, even if people had to fly or drive home to make it happen.
After graduating from high school in Steinbach (‘the heavenly city’, as dad called it), he went to Prairie Bible Institute for one year. After his return, he joined Reimer Express Lines in the family business started by his brother, Donald S.Reimer. He worked together there with his brothers until he sold his interests back to the company and retired in 1997. During his career at Reimer Express Lines, he generously contributed to the business community, being involved in the Manitoba Trucking Association, the Canadian Trucking Association, serving as the president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and sitting on the Board of the Winnipeg Foundation for 20 years. He had a real heart for Winnipeg Bible College (now Providence University College and Theological Seminary), assisting them in finding and relocating to their current campus in Otterburne, and also serving on the board for over 20 years.
Another love of his life was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was a Bomber fan for more than 50 years and no one was more passionate and positive about them than Dad. For his eightieth birthday, the whole family attended a game together. Following the Bomber’s victory, we met on the field where Dad was presented with a signed #80 Bomber jersey. Dad built more family traditions around the Bombers by taking us to many games and when the Bombers were in the Grey Cup, he planned special last minute trips to these momentous events.
Retirement from Reimer Express Lines did not mean retirement for Dad. It was an opportunity for new investments like Think Shift, and to take on more volunteering and fundraising roles in politics, crusades and his church, Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church. Nothing was too small or too big for dad. He was willing to serve in whatever way he could. His love of Jesus was the driving force in everything he did. He literally walked every street in the entire southeast area of Winnipeg and invited every household to church. He just loved Jesus so much that he didn’t want anyone to miss out on the opportunity to be loved by Him. No one was too young or too old, he was a friend to everyone. One of his favourite self-assigned jobs was to be the ‘Gum Man’ at church. Every week, after the service, he would meet many children in the foyer and hand out gum to them. He knew their names, their families and he loved them all.
Dad’s life was typified by faithfulness, positivity, a servant heart, and an unswerving love and trust in his Saviour, Jesus Christ. He always lived out the message of John 3:16-17-“For this is how God loved the world. He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.”
Dad, you made a huge impact not only in our lives, but the lives of everyone you served. Thank you for your example of a life well-lived.
March 9, 1938-July 6, 2022
A celebration of Gerald’s life will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church at 500 Lagimodiere Blvd. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to Union Gospel Mission in his honour.
Gerald Frank Reimer passed peacefully into Heaven on July 6, 2022 after suffering a heart attack two weeks prior. Gerald is survived by his wife, June, son, Darcy (Tara) Reimer, daughter, Sheri (Merlin) Braun, grandchildren, Kristen, Matthew, Hannah and Josh, brothers Delbert (Noreen) Reimer, Donald (Anne) Reimer and sister Grace (Ken) Betzold. He was predeceased by his mom, Margaret Penner Reimer and his dad, Frank Friesen Reimer.
Dad was 9 years old when he invited Jesus into his life and from that day forward, he was truly someone who let the imprint of God touch all aspects of his life. No matter what he did, (and he was always busy doing something!), he always desired to do it to the best of his ability and to the glory of God.
There was nothing more precious to dad than Jesus, but running a very close second was his family. Dad married mom on June 11, 1960, with his son Darcy, born on November 4, 1963 and daughter, Sheri, born on September 25, 1966. Dad was really a kid at heart for his entire life, and that made our family trips a whole lot of fun. Whenever we would go on road trips, he was the one wanting to stop for ice cream every afternoon, pulling into crazy little roadside attractions to take a driving break and booking hotels with pools so our evenings were full of fun. When the grandkids came along, dad was the one who was willing to go on the twisty carnival rides with them. He also loved taking them on fun outings, especially if they involved food! So many great memories were also built when the entire family went away together at Thanksgiving for 35 consecutive years. Every year, everyone was there, even if people had to fly or drive home to make it happen.
After graduating from high school in Steinbach (‘the heavenly city’, as dad called it), he went to Prairie Bible Institute for one year. After his return, he joined Reimer Express Lines in the family business started by his brother, Donald S.Reimer. He worked together there with his brothers until he sold his interests back to the company and retired in 1997. During his career at Reimer Express Lines, he generously contributed to the business community, being involved in the Manitoba Trucking Association, the Canadian Trucking Association, serving as the president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and sitting on the Board of the Winnipeg Foundation for 20 years. He had a real heart for Winnipeg Bible College (now Providence University College and Theological Seminary), assisting them in finding and relocating to their current campus in Otterburne, and also serving on the board for over 20 years.
Another love of his life was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was a Bomber fan for more than 50 years and no one was more passionate and positive about them than Dad. For his eightieth birthday, the whole family attended a game together. Following the Bomber’s victory, we met on the field where Dad was presented with a signed #80 Bomber jersey. Dad built more family traditions around the Bombers by taking us to many games and when the Bombers were in the Grey Cup, he planned special last minute trips to these momentous events.
Retirement from Reimer Express Lines did not mean retirement for Dad. It was an opportunity for new investments like Think Shift, and to take on more volunteering and fundraising roles in politics, crusades and his church, Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church. Nothing was too small or too big for dad. He was willing to serve in whatever way he could. His love of Jesus was the driving force in everything he did. He literally walked every street in the entire southeast area of Winnipeg and invited every household to church. He just loved Jesus so much that he didn’t want anyone to miss out on the opportunity to be loved by Him. No one was too young or too old, he was a friend to everyone. One of his favourite self-assigned jobs was to be the ‘Gum Man’ at church. Every week, after the service, he would meet many children in the foyer and hand out gum to them. He knew their names, their families and he loved them all.
Dad’s life was typified by faithfulness, positivity, a servant heart, and an unswerving love and trust in his Saviour, Jesus Christ. He always lived out the message of John 3:16-17-“For this is how God loved the world. He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.”
Dad, you made a huge impact not only in our lives, but the lives of everyone you served. Thank you for your example of a life well-lived.