Katerina Loewen passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on December 9, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tina was born October 23, 1928 in Ste Anne, Manitoba, the ninth of 11 children. She grew up on the family farm near Hepburn, Saskatchewan and graduated high school there in 1946. She studied nursing at Saskatoon City Hospital and following graduation worked at the hospital. It was in Saskatoon where she met her husband of 67 years, Edward Loewen, and they were married there in 1952. Between 1954 and 1958 they had four children, with a fifth arriving in 1967.
Tina worked full-time as a registered nurse for 25 years, juggling a demanding career while running a busy household. Her nursing career included working as an operating room nurse in Saskatoon and Didsbury (Alberta), an administrator at Rockyview Hospital in Calgary, a ward nurse in Lanigan (Saskatchewan), and head nurse at Donwood Manor in Winnipeg. Her professionalism and compassion were deeply appreciated by both patients and colleagues.
She was a strong and resilient person who adapted to changing life circumstances with grace. She loved her children with all her heart and through her actions taught them what it takes to be a wonderful parent. She enrolled all her children in music lessons, but did grow tired of having to nag them to practice everyday. She enjoyed going to concerts and plays, particularly musicals, often taking one of her children on these special outings. She was an avid reader and a member of the Book of the Month Club for a number of years.
Tina liked to dress stylishly and was always well dressed even when grocery shopping. She loved to entertain and on special occasions would prepare amazing meals for family and friends. She was a woman of many talents; bilingual in English and German; baker of fancy loaves, cakes and squares; knitter of intricate wool sweaters, mittens, hats, and stuffed animals; painter of custom birdhouses; and homegrown chicken farmer. While butchering the chickens she would point out the internal organs and provide fascinating explanations of their functions.
Tina was raised in the Mennonite Brethren church and was a woman of faith all her life. She was active in the church as a leader of the Pioneer Girls and of a women’s bible study. She volunteered as the camp nurse many summers at Camp Evergreen in Alberta. Tina and Ed went to Lithuania in 1994 and again in 1996 to volunteer at Lithuanian Christian College in Klaipeda. She acted as a hostess, welcoming and orienting new volunteers and also purchased groceries and prepared meals for the volunteers while Ed managed the construction of new buildings. During their time in Europe, they were able to visit many other countries including trips to Budapest and St. Petersburg.
Katerina is survived by daughters Jackie (Leo) Brassard and Michelle (Rob) Wall; sons Gerry (Irene), Bob (Joyce) and Mark (Cheryl); grandchildren Shannon, David (Tiffany), Daniel (Jennifer), Jennifer (Joel), Caroline (Ryan), Laura (Mitch), Mark, Brooke (Joel), Alex, Jake, Vanessa (Jamie), Camille (Nate) and Nicole; and 19 great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her family and friends and always remembered as a gracious, compassionate and loving person.
A funeral service for Katerina will be held Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Green Acres Funeral Home and Cemetery, Highway 1 East at Navin Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
