Gateway to the Past: The Cornelius and Maria D. Loewen story
copyright Lorilee Scharfenberg and Nettie Brandt 2000
Chapter 1 : C.D. and Maria Loewen
Chapter 2: Margaret (Loewen) Friesen
Chapter 3: Peter C. Loewen
Chapter 4: Maria (Loewen) Eidse
Chapter 5: Anna (Loewen) Dueck
Chapter 6: Elizabeth (Loewen) Dueck
Chapter 7: Helena (Loewen) Friesen
Chapter 8: Neta (Loewen) Dueck
Chapter 9: Tena (Loewen) Brandt
Chapter 10: Family Scrapbook
Dedication To Tena (Loewen) Brandt. We dedicate this book to you upon reaching the age of 90 in this year of publication, 1997.
Foreword
“Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” Psalm 102:18
Although this book has been subject to a four-month delay as a result of the massive Red River Valley Flood of ‘97, we have overcome the
waters. The photos and writings and computer of yours truly have made three moves before this book managed to near completion. A
secondary dedication belongs to all those who sandbagged, served food, took us into their homes and churches while we were forced from
our homes and came and helped us rebuild. We can never thank the Lord enough for all of the selflessness of those who gave their best for us.
I have been continually amazed as I have worked on putting the memories of three generations of Loewens into this book. The enthusiasm
with which the families have responded has been tremendous and the knowledge that our Creator has allowed us to retain and access from
our memory banks is astounding. Our family has pioneered in many countries and the fourth and fifth generations will continue to spread
over this beautiful world that God has created. I hope that this book will cause us to remember the godly heritage given to us by our
forefathers and I pray that this Gateway to the Past will encourage us to follow the Narrow Road to Eternal Life. May the adventures of those
who have written inspire you, the readers, to live life to the full with eternity constantly in view.
Lorilee G. Scharfenberg, Composer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is now 25 years since we started farming some of the Loewen farmland. Three years ago we added the original farmsite, together with Gary &
Karen (C.D. Loewen’s great-granddaughter) Hildebrandt. As I have tilled the soil, I’ve often wondered what stories this land could tell - like the
spot where Aunt Anna’s husband was killed when his tractor overturned. Many times I have asked my mother-in-law, Tena Brandt, about their
farm and her own experiences helping her father guiding the horses pulling the tillage equipment. I have come to the conclusion that many
things have not changed in 75 years.
We still work long hours, (more comfortably) same as then. We have to plan and choose carefully, the soil has to be properly cared for, the
weeds - even with modern chemicals still a continuous challenge - if not controlled will spoil the crop. If we are blessed with a good crop we feel
the pride of working hard for it the same as Grandfather did. There have been many blessings for us and we are thankful that we could raise our
family on grandfather’s land. It has been a great honor for us and it has been a good life.
We can see from this book that our parents passed on good, solid, biblical principles of life. Among these are an honest, hard-work ethic and
being committed to the family. Today we reap the rewards of this seed sown, even to the fourth generation! We sympathize with the few where
this has not worked out, and pray that with God’s help we will uphold the family legacy into the future regardless of world trends around us.
I could not have written the stories in this book but rather my job has been to encourage those that remember - that they preserve the memories
before we lose them forever. The honor and thanks for this book go to Nettie Brandt and Lori Scharfenberg, for the many hours of quality time
they put into it.
Nettie, a retired schoolteacher, not only took on the challenge of this book, but did it on her own new computer! Thanks, Nettie! Lori, married
to Arlin and mother of two boys, used her unwavering challenging style to encourage each Loewen member to submit a write-up. Thanks, Lori!
You have spent countless hours making this book become a reality. Lori also published her father’s book, “I Remember-Riverside and the
Regions Beyond”.
Jan Gleysten wrote - A people who have not the pride to record their history will not long have the virtues to make their history worth recording:
and no people who are indifferent to their past need hope to make their future great. Arthur Dueck - Project
Chairman