Obituary for Katherine Hoeppner (Dyck)
Katherine Hoeppner (nee Dyck) was born in 1930 in Chihuahua, Mexico, where her parents, Peter Dyck and Justina Friesen had traveled from Manitoba as part of a Mennonite migration. She returned to Manitoba at a very young age and grew up on a homestead farm close to Morden. She was the middle child of the family with four brothers (Isaac, Cornelius, Peter, Abe), and four sisters (Justina, Mary, Anne, Susan). Work on the family farm, which included a large vegetable and fruit garden was a big part of her childhood.
Music was also a big part of her home experience. Her father played accordion, and the ‘Dyck sisters’ were often asked to sing, with guitars, at gatherings. She learned to play piano as an adult and continued with that through the years, as well as singing in several choirs which brought her much joy.
Katherine moved to Winnipeg when she was twenty-two years old to attend business college, and then began working as a legal secretary. She met her husband, David Hoeppner, in Winnipeg, although he had also grown up not far from her on a farm in the Pembina Hills south of Morden. They married in 1956 and established a home and family of three daughters (Bertha, Sandra, Norma). David worked as a finish carpenter, and after raising her daughters she returned to work on a part-time basis as an administrative assistant at various places including the Fresh Water Institute and the Computer Science Department at the University of Manitoba where she transcribed very detailed and difficult papers for the faculty. She had a thirst for knowledge and embraced whatever opportunities she had for life-long learning including reading and taking courses through adult education.
Katherine went on many camping trips with her family to places such as Yellowstone National Park, and the World’s Fair in Spokane Washington. Once she and David were both retired they took some wonderful road trips to the Maritimes and Alaska, and enjoyed many days of gardening and walking in their neighbourhood. Dad died in 2006 in their 50th year of marriage. This was a difficult period of adjustment for mom, but she stayed very active with volunteering at the MCC Thrift Shop, at Riverview Health Centre, and the Harrow School reading program. She also had a very good group of neighbourhood friends, including Marilyn Wright, with whom she shared many adventures. She eventually found a new home at Bethel Place for a number of years before her final move to Pembina Place.
Katherine is survived by her daughters, Bertha (Wes), Sandra (Iris), Norma (David); grandsons, Evan and Graham; and siblings, Justina, Anne, Abe, Peter and Susan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, David, and siblings, Cornelius, Isaac and Mary.
The family is grateful for the professional, kind and thoughtful care she received from the staff at Pembina Place.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Street (parking access off Harrow Street) in Winnipeg.
Music was also a big part of her home experience. Her father played accordion, and the ‘Dyck sisters’ were often asked to sing, with guitars, at gatherings. She learned to play piano as an adult and continued with that through the years, as well as singing in several choirs which brought her much joy.
Katherine moved to Winnipeg when she was twenty-two years old to attend business college, and then began working as a legal secretary. She met her husband, David Hoeppner, in Winnipeg, although he had also grown up not far from her on a farm in the Pembina Hills south of Morden. They married in 1956 and established a home and family of three daughters (Bertha, Sandra, Norma). David worked as a finish carpenter, and after raising her daughters she returned to work on a part-time basis as an administrative assistant at various places including the Fresh Water Institute and the Computer Science Department at the University of Manitoba where she transcribed very detailed and difficult papers for the faculty. She had a thirst for knowledge and embraced whatever opportunities she had for life-long learning including reading and taking courses through adult education.
Katherine went on many camping trips with her family to places such as Yellowstone National Park, and the World’s Fair in Spokane Washington. Once she and David were both retired they took some wonderful road trips to the Maritimes and Alaska, and enjoyed many days of gardening and walking in their neighbourhood. Dad died in 2006 in their 50th year of marriage. This was a difficult period of adjustment for mom, but she stayed very active with volunteering at the MCC Thrift Shop, at Riverview Health Centre, and the Harrow School reading program. She also had a very good group of neighbourhood friends, including Marilyn Wright, with whom she shared many adventures. She eventually found a new home at Bethel Place for a number of years before her final move to Pembina Place.
Katherine is survived by her daughters, Bertha (Wes), Sandra (Iris), Norma (David); grandsons, Evan and Graham; and siblings, Justina, Anne, Abe, Peter and Susan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, David, and siblings, Cornelius, Isaac and Mary.
The family is grateful for the professional, kind and thoughtful care she received from the staff at Pembina Place.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Street (parking access off Harrow Street) in Winnipeg.