William B Reimer

William B. Reimer (Dad) passed away peacefully on June 14, 2018 during the afternoon at approximately 1:45. 

Dad was born to Jacob and Anna Reimer (nee Buhler) November 2, 1940 at Stuartburn, Manitoba.  He was the sixth child in a family of 12.  He was baptized for his faith in 1961 in the Rhineland Mennonite Church.

He was raised on a dairy farm west of Roseau River, Manitoba.  He prided himself on being a farmer; however, he enjoyed putting his family to work on the farm.  We don’t think he actually liked farming, but felt that is what he had to do.  What he really enjoyed was concrete and building.

In 1960 knowing that Mr. Martens would be preaching that morning, and there was a good possibility that his daughter Mary would be with him, EVEN though he didn’t have any teeth in his mouth, he went to check out the preacher’s daughter.  Following that, upon the advice of her mother, Mary Martens went on a date with Bill, and on June 18, 1961, they married.  He came to the church on his wedding day, with borrowed money in his pocket, driving his ’52 Chevy pickup truck and a homemade camper on the back.  The camper wasn’t tight enough and by the time he got to Rosenfeld, it had flown off, ending up on the road, wedding suit included.  Their Honeymoon Suite!  It had nothing to do with speed, I’m sure!

They were married in the Rhineland Mennonite church in Altona by Rev John Neufeld, because Dad knew that he wouldn’t take so long and he had never married anyone before (nor after).  Following their one-week honeymoon in British Columbia, they moved just west of Roseau River, 2 miles west of Dad’s parents.

Only 11 months after being married, their first daughter, Mary, was born.  A short 11 months later, daughter Barb was born.  Dad then bought a dairy farm that included a large hip roof barn and a log house, full of mice and no plumbing.  While living in that house they had 2 sons, William & Henry.

The ‘60s were a stellar decade for dad.  He LOVED building with his brothers, Jake & John.  They built many barns and elevators - business was booming.  In 1969, shortly after having their 5th child, a daughter, Elizabeth, they moved into their first new house that Dad built.  It included a full indoor bathroom and a laundry room!  In ‘69, he was able to buy his first new pick-up and a Buick Stationwagon.

The 1970’s were also very good for business.  In 1972 dad’s brother Dave and his family, joined Dad and Mom at Roseau River.  They had a redi-mix plant, grain farm, hens, a few cows, and a lot of pigs.   They had another daughter, Annabelle in 1973 and a son, Jake, in 1975.

In 1977 he decided to take the entire family to Bolivia for an extended vacation.  In 1979, having packed 5 large crates, he took his family on a plane and moved to Bolivia where he built Mom their 2nd new home.  But missing his family tremendously, and having to conform to very strict rules and boundaries, he had had enough and moved the family back to Manitoba in May of 1980.

He bought a couple acres close to Grunthal where we only lived for a short time before moving to Plumas.  Having to start with nothing, again, was very difficult, with interest rates up to 24%.  They started with a concrete plant, dairy, and grain farm but after only a few years, and they sold their dairy and continued with cement and grain farming.

Dad enjoyed going for coffee at the local coffee shop.  He also enjoyed golfing, a sport that he took up in the 1990’s when his concrete rep took him out and he was hooked.  It gave him something to do besides work.  Sundays were for church, and visiting as well.  He would drive to MacGregor Sommerfeld Church, an hour one way, no matter what the weather was.

He built his 4th new house in Austin for their retirement.  We moved them in July 2015.  He had a great workshop he puttered in, enjoyed gardening and puzzled endlessly, making frames for the finished ones.  He enjoyed being needed and doing projects. 

In 2005 Dad & Mom started to go to Texas.  The only year they did not go south was the winter he had his second heart attack.  His first one was in March of 2006, which he recovered well from with only 1 stent; but after his second heart attack in November of 2016 he received another 4 stents, and he never fully recovered.

Dad & Mom had 7 children, Mary (Peter), Barb (Cornie), Willie (Diane), Henry (Lynn), Elizabeth, Annabelle and Jake (Melinda); 25 grandchildren, Susan, Darlene, Jason, Steven, Kristine, Cassandra, Melissa, Angela, Joe, Greg, Ryan, Ronald, Rachel, Brady, Lori, Anisa, Dylan, Austin, Joshua, Keira, Caleb, Brooke, Keziah, Emily, and Alexie, along with their spouses as well as 26 great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents; parents-in-law; 1 sister; 2 brothers; 2 brothers-in-law; 2 sisters-in-law.  He is survived by 5 brothers, 3 sisters and their families.  Dad was 77 years old, 7 months, 12 days.

He reminded all of us that he prayed for each of us every day.  He shared his faith with anyone who would be willing to listen – or not.  He had a very difficult time reading but would insist on reading scripture for himself daily.  We as a family feel blessed to have had a dad like we did.  He showed us the importance of loving the Lord, loving your spouse, and loving your family.  He also taught us the value of hard work.

We would like to thank all of you for your prayers, for the food brought to Mom’s, encouraging words, the Ladies Aid for serving the lunch, Carberry EMS, the RCMP, the church caretakers, to Clarke’s for their care and consideration to the family, the ministerial, as well as Darlene, Kristine and Rachel for the powerpoint and for all the friends and family that took the time to come and support us.

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