Obituary of Ben Giesbrecht

Ben Lawrence Giesbrecht, 87, of Swift Current, Sask., passed away, Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at the Swift Current Care Centre. Surviving Ben are his 2 brothers, Clarence (Martha) Giesbrecht of Abbotsford B.C. and Harry Giesbrecht of Rosthern, Sask. He will be greatly missed by his second wife, O’Della Driedger Giesbrecht and his 4 children, Sydney(Joanne) Giesbrecht, Joan Maguire, Audrey (Terry) Klippenstein, Jeanette (Alan) Bailey: 10 grandchildren, Chris (Jessica) Giesbrecht, Kim (Kurt) Peters, Meagan (Marcus) Olson, Jeffrey Maguire, Chad Klippenstein, Scott (Ella) Klippenstein, Rhett Klippenstein, Danielle, Katlyn and Joseph Bailey: 7 great-grandchildren, Sydney, Mateo, Isaiah, Harley, Borden, Noah and Finnley. He was predeceased by his first wife, Gladys, 2 brothers and 7 sisters. Ben was born on November 10, 1922 on a farm south of Hepburn, Sask. He was the 8th of 12 children born to Jacob and Tena (Fast) Giesbrecht. While still a young boy, Ben moved with his family to Dalmeny, Sask. where they operated the Giesbrecht General Store. In Dalmeny, Ben attended elementary school, high school, as well as 1 year of BibleSchool. After BibleSchool, he moved to Saskatoon where he attended Normal School (Teacher’s College). He began his teaching career at MagnoliaSchool, north of Duck Lake, Sask. and then continued his career at RiverbankSchool near Langham, Sask, HepburnSchool in Hepburn, Sask., LuxorSchool in Neidpath, Sask. and DicksonSchool in Swift Current. His summers, in those early years of teaching, were spent in 2 ways, either taking summer classes to complete his BEd., or working at various summer jobs. Ben retired from teaching, the career he truly loved, in 1980. Ben met Gladys Sperling, the first love of his life, in 1944 at his sister’s wedding. They began dating and corresponding and were engaged in July 1946. One month later, on August 16th, they were married in Abbotsford, B.C. They made their first home in Hepburn, Sask. A year later, they moved to Mennon, Sask. and then in 1949, they moved back to Dalmeny where Ben gave up his teaching career for a few years in order to help run the Giesbrecht General Store. In 1954, Ben returned to teaching, moving his family to Neidpath, Sask. Ben and Gladys and family, eventually moved to Swift Current where they made their permanent home. Four children were born to Ben and Gladys: Sydney, Joan, Audrey and Jeanette. Ben was a loving husband and father. After 47 years of marriage, Ben was devastated by the death of his wife, Gladys. After her death, he occupied himself with woodworking, working with the Gideons and the Senior’s group at church. While working in the Senior’s group, he met a vibrant, loving woman named, O’Della. They became good friends and married in November of 1998, and Ben was blessed with the second love of his life. This also included the addition of O’Della’s children to his family: Marilyn Driedger, Joanne (Ken) Wiens, Pecko(Bruce) Klaassen and 2 grandchildren, Jeff(Amber) Wiens and Curtis Wiens. Ben and O’Della resided together for 9 years until Ben’s health deteriorated and he moved to the Swift Current Care Centre. Ben had a strong, principled faith and from a young man, he desired to follow his Lord. At the age of 16, Ben committed his life to following Christ. This deep faith instilled in him a desire to serve in various ministries. He was a charter member of the TrailviewAllianceChurch in Swift Current and served faithfully in a variety of roles, such as, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, treasurer, finance chairman and on the board of elders. He was also a member of the Gideons International since 1950. He held various positions of leadership with them on the provincial level as well as the national level. With this organization, he had the great privilege to travel to every province in Canada, half of the states in the United States, as well as to Venezuela. It gave him great joy to give anyone a Gideon Bible. Ben was a life-long learner who had many interests, be it, woodworking, fishing, hunting, traveling, taxidermy, lapidary, reading, gardening, playing cards with friends, as well as playing numerous sports. Ben was still waterskiing at age 70! But one of Ben’s greatest interests and loves was the cabin he built in 1970 at AnglinLake. Ben and Gladys spent many wonderful summers at the lake. There they entertained children, grandchildren, family, and many friends. The Lake became Ben’s haven. With Ben’s marriage to O‘Della, this tradition of summer’s at Anglin continued. He happily introduced her to the joys of cabin life. Ben was a man of faith, a man of character and integrity and a man who dearly loved his family. We will miss him greatly, but we are so grateful to God for his life. We, his children, were so very privileged to have called him Dad. The funeral service was held on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at Trailview Alliance Church with Pastor Mike Smart officiating. The interment was held at Mount Pleasant Burial Park, Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Memorial donations may be made to Gideons International or to the Swift Current Care Centre Auxiliary. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Parkside Memorial Funeral Home, Swift Current, Saskatchewan.