John Sawatzky

John Sawatzky, age 95, of Mt. Lake died on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Village in Mt. Lake. John Sawatzky was born November 3, 1914 in Adelsheim, Russia. He was the second of seven children born to Margarete Lehn and Johann Sawatzky. John's early years were filled with the realities of communism, war and terror along with being the oldest son and assuming the responsibilities of helping his mother feed the family after his father's death when he was 17. Life was always put on the line and despite religion being banned he had an enormous faith in God. Prayer was a lifeline and many times the only thing that remained a constant in his life. The brutality he lived with made a big impact on him and survival was always in the forefront of his mind. The fact that life goes on in difficult situations was a blessing. On January 6, 1938 John married Elizabeth Forrer. There were no churches to bless this union but faith was never lost. Working on the collective farm was hard work but John excelled, working very hard to do his best to provide for his family. He had a great deal of ingenuity to make the best of what life dealt. The threat of death, from either starvation or being killed was constant. Eventually John and his family arrived in Backnang, Germany at the MCC Refugee Camp. At the Camp both John and Elizabeth were baptized on July 4, 1948 by Peter Dyck. Eventually in 1949 they came to live in Mt. Lake. John worked for P.G. Rahn who sponsored him and then as a cabinet maker in 1953 he began working for Midland Coop Oil from where he retired at age 65. The church was a cornerstone in his life and he served as Sunday school teacher and superintendant and deacon. John flourished in the safe environment of this country and he and Elizabeth enjoyed 46 years of marriage and many wonderful trips to see friends and relatives across the U.S. and Canada. His family was a continual source of satisfaction and pride. August 9, 1989 John married Mabel (Worms) Janzen. They enjoyed 17 happy years of marriage. John is survived by 5 children, Elsie (Robert) Stomberg, Gerhardt (Jeanne Hemmer) Sawatzky, Lorena Sawatzky Mierau, David (Jeannie Stenke) Sawatzky and Mary (Timothy) Frederickson; one step-daughter Faye (Janzen) Krause; 16 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; two brothers, Cornelius of Winnipeg, Manitoba and George of Dinuba, CA; one sister Lydia of Winnipeg, Manitoba; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth, son John, 2 daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth, 3 sisters, Agnes, Helen and Elizabeth and his second wife Mabel. May his life be a testament to the strength of God. He never forgot those who didn't survive and it was his mission to let others know the history so that we can always understand how powerful God is and how much we need to be thankful. Memorials may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee.