Obituary of Katie Aurora Mathies

MATHIES –Katie (Gerbrandt), who had a strong relationship with the Lord, peacefully and joyfully went to be with Jesus on Sunday, January 11, 2015. She was born in Herbert, Saskatchewan on August 19, 1918 to Cornelius and Susan (Klassen) Gerbrandt, the oldest of their 6 children. Katie was unable to attend school at the usual age of six but quickly caught up with her classmates when she went to Los Angeles School and later to Rosefarm School. Katie’s family attended the Green Farm Mennonite Brethern Church where she accepted Christ as her Saviour. Katie made enduring friendships during her school years that lasted until they shared friendships in the Manor. Katie’s elderly maternal grandmother, often bedridden, lived with the family for many years and from Katie’s teen years onward, Katie shared a room with her and was responsible for much of her care. Katie occasionally worked as a mother’s helper for various people when her own mother could spare her. She chose to be baptized while in her early twenties and in 1942 she married Dave Mathies. They started farm life with a cow and a few pigs. As the farm grew and progressed, so did their family and there was rarely a peaceful moment as from 1943 to 1961 there were 12 births, 10 boys and 2 girls. Little Billy was stillborn but the other 11 both worked with their parents and certainly kept their parents working. Katie managed the household extremely well but was always willing to stop any task if a child needed her. It seems impossible but she could answer five or more varied demands of “MOM …” while kneading her bun dough or frying the eggs. Besides her children, she raised chickens, vegetables, separated milk and about 200 other tasks. Katie had sometimes been very ill when she was young but she claimed to get physically stronger with each new baby. She was a peaceful, gentle and caring person attracting the love of all. She mended, created clothing from scraps or her wedding dress, stretched the family allowance to the limit to see that her children were clean and respectable at all times. She liked to do crafts, make things for grandchildren, and once she had some less busy days showed that she had great artistic ability and continued painting until this past Thanksgiving. Her children and grandchildren treasure those oil and acrylic paintings. For many years she taught Sunday School to little ones who still talk about their kind, loving teacher. Her Christmases were truly magical. Her children and grandchildren were constantly aware of her prayers and her desire for each one to have a relationship with the Lord. A book could not hold enough pages for all the stories shared and experienced by her children, her daughters-in–law, her sons-in-law, grandchildren, their spouses and their children. She was a treasure beyond measure. She often rejoiced in the provision of her ‘reward’ – her wonderful home and staff at the Herbert Heritage Manor for the past seven years. “They do everything for me here.” Katie was predeceased by her loving husband Dave who passed away in August, 1994, her parents, her grandson Cory Mathies, her granddaughter-in-law Chantel Andres, her brothers Irwin, Elmer and her sister-in-law Cathy, her sister Jessie and brother-in-law Leonard Peters and her brother-in-law John Penner. In the Mathies family she is the last member of Dave’s family to pass away. Dave’s six sisters and their spouses all predeceased her. Katie is survived by her sister Esther Penner, her brother Harry (Lena) Gerbrandt, her sister-in-law Elizabeth Gerbrandt and her large loving family. Roy (Lydia), Cliff (Gina), Betty (Corny) Andres, Ron (Cindy), Herb (Marilynne), Harvey (Karon), Hank (Brenda), Colleen (Bob) Leslie, Bob, Ken (Colleen), Don (Esther) with grandchildren totaling 30 and 47 great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held Friday, January 16, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church with Pastor Bob Cappelle officiating. Pianist Kim Fast, soloist Don Mathies, Eulogy Harvey Mathies, Obituary Cliff Mathies with pall bearers Roy Mathies, Ron Mathies, Herb Mathies, Hank Mathies, Bob Mathies, Ken Mathies and Corny Andres. Ushers: Al Jahnke, Phil Klassen, Jim Sawatzky, Rudy Pipke. For further information or to sign the family book of condolences, visit www.parksidefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in care of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home.