One Kronsgart Dyck family

by Bert Friesen

The MMHS Newsletter of September 1998, included an article on the settling of Kronsgart just north of the West Reserve. Here is the second part of the story of the Dyck family which founded the village.

Gerhard and Anna had nine daughters and three sons who survived childhood. The Dyck family had moved to Kronsgart area in 1897 where the last of the daughters was born. The oldest son was George, born in 1887. He was therefore ten years of age when they moved to the Kronsgart area. The railway came through in 1906-1907 when he was ending his teen years.

In 1913 George married Tina Bückert. They fulfilled his father's wish to farm in the same area which he did on land just north of his father's homestead. It had been planned that his youngest brother, Abram, born in 1894, should take over his father's homestead after his marriage. However, he fell victim to the flu epidemic in B.C. when he travelled there with is brother, Peter, born in 1889, to marry his sister-in-law's sister. His brother also died there during the 1918 epidemic. This situation had a profound effect on the family.

This was truly a case of the domino effect. First, George and Tina, were now mandated to take over his father's homestead. George was the only surviving son. A small retirement home and barn were built for his parents. This move meant that the farmstead where George and Tina had begun their married life just north of his parents was now vacant. It was taken over in 1920 by his sister Lena, born 1891, and married to Henry Banman in 1912. The Banman family had moved to a farm close to the Dyck siblings in 1915. This farm was now vacant and was taken over in 1920 by Lena's youngest sister, Margaret, who had married John Giesbrecht the previous year and had lived with the parents, Anna and Gerhard Dyck. So the original homestead was taken over by George, his farm by Lena, and Lena's by Margaret who had none.

Tina and George Dyck farmed the original family homestead until 1957, nearly forty years. It was then taken over by his son who still farms this land. George's health deteriorated quickly after their move off the farm into Winkler and he died there in 1961. His wife Tina, lived in Winkler until her death in 1981.

Lena and Henry Banman stayed on this farm until 1927. After this they left the family enclave for moves to various places in Manitoba before Henry's death in 1949. Lena stayed on the farm for a few more years with her daughter before moving into Winkler where she died in 1984.

Margaret and John Giesbrecht, who had moved onto the original Banman farm in 1920, stayed on this land until their retirement in 1953. They spent over thirty years, but then retired to Morden. Margaret died in 1962 and John over ten years later.

It is clear that by the 1960s the children of Anna and Gerhard had mostly retired. Only a few of the next generation were interested in living on their land. Eventually, by the early 1970s, most to them had moved into Winkler. Some, however, continued farming in the area and do so to this day, continuing on into the next generation. They are Tina and George's son, Bert who still lives and farms on the original homestead. Then of the daughters, the eldest, Elisabeth has a grandson, Tim Labun, still living and farming the original Labun homestead. Finally, the second eldest, Katharina's grandson, David Penner, is also on the original Penner homestead. There are four grandchildren of Justina's who still live and farm in the area but not on the original Banman homestead.

Dr. Cornelius Wiebe - Winkler (1893- )

On Feb.18 this year Dr. C.W. Wiebe, now resident in a personal care home in Winkler celebrated his 106th birthday. Only weeks before that he also received the Order of Canada thus to become the oldest person ever to receive that honour.

Everyone agrees it is a well-deserved award. Dr. Wiebe led an active life as a family doctor of the community from 1925-1978, and even after that could be found involved in his practise here and there (so we are told).

Dr. Wiebe was born in Altona, Manitoba area in 1893. His involvements came to include a period of presidency for the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons and Manitoba Medical Association, 25 years service as a local school trustee, and a political life as MLA for Manitoba in the 1930s. He also spearheaded the drive to build the first Bethel Hospital in Winkler. It cost $20,000 and opened in 1936 with 15 beds. In 1970 he also founded a rehabilitation centre for the handicapped.

He is widely know in southern Manitoba and elsewhere, and it has been said of him: He has given way beyond the call of duty in treating patients and helping people. We salute Dr. Wiebe, and hope he recovers quickly from a fall he had recently. He will no doubt receive the fine medical treatment which he was always ready to give others.

Persons wishing to know more about Dr. Wiebe's life and work are invited to read Mavis Reimer's 1983 publication Cornelius W. Wiebe: A Beloved Physician. It can still be purchased from Mennonite Books (call 1-204-668-7475).