Abram J. Sawatsky

1918 – 1966

The obituary of Rev. Abram J. Sawatsky which follows was largely written by himself while he was a patient in St. John’s Hospital at Huron, South Dakota.

I, Abram Jacob Sawatsky was to born to Mr. & Mrs. Jacob J. Sawatsky in Arkadak, Russia on June 20, 1918. Our family immigrated to Canada in 1926 and set up residency in Borden, Saskatchewan. Nine months later we moved to Richard, Saskatchewan where I received my elementary training.

At the age of ten I accepted Christ at my mother's knee. My father fell seriously ill in 1934 and I then had to take on most of the farming responsibilities. After Father's death in 1936 Mother disposed of the property and we settled in Yarrow, B.C. where I attended the Elim Bible School in Yarrow. During this time, I heeded the call of God to enter the ministry.

On June 4, 1944, after graduating from Bible school I was united in marriage to Leona Esther Warkentin. God blessed us with seven children. I continued my education at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg. In 1948 my wife and I responded to God's summoning and I accepted the ministerial duties at the County Line Church in B.C. In 1950 we were called to Saskatoon where we initiated the organization of the West Portal Church. In August of 1956 we were invited to take over the pastoral responsibilities in the Kelowna (B.C.) Church which we did until 1962. The Lord rewarded us with many blessed victories during our tenure there. We left Canada in 1962 for Huron, South Dakota where we were privileged to minister in the Bethesda MB Church. I especially enjoyed the Christian spirit of harmony with the brethren of the Central District. In April of this year we responded to the request to serve at Lustre, Montana. (This was never fulfilled.)

A physician at Kelowna detected leukemia in the spring of 1962 which required specific therapy. My response to the treatment was most gratifying and I was again able to continue in the Lord's service. God gave me almost four additional years of service. (End of own writing)

In late May of this year, Rev. Sawatsky was transferred to Vancouver where his family followed him. Early Friday morning, August 5, 1966 he slipped out of this life to his higher calling. He was 48 years old at the time.

He is survived by his wife, Leona; four sons, Kenneth (and his wife Sheryl and grandson Jeremy Dean) of Dinuba, Calif., Daniel, David and Ronald, all at home; three daughters, Marlene, Sharon and Dorothy, at home; a brother, Jacob in Russia; three sisters, Helen (Mrs. John H. Block) of Vancouver, Mary (Mrs. Jacob A. Dyck) of Vancouver, and Anna (Mrs. Henry Janzen) of Loon Lake, Sask. His parents and two brothers, Peter and Frank, preceded him in death.

Rev. Sawatsky derived greatest satisfaction from the singing and the preaching of the gospel. His favourite solo was Until Then and his most frequently quoted passage was "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die ... " John 11:25, 26.

Interment was at Yarrow Cemetery.




1924 - 2017 Leona Esther Sawatsky was born March 15, 1924 in Hepburn, Saskatchewan. Her parents were David H. & Annie (Ewert) Warkentin. She passed away October 10, 2017.

A sermon series by Rev. J. B. Toews at South Abbotsford MB Church led 14-year old Leona to realize that she needed forgiveness and peace. She was baptized at South Abbotsford MB Church in 1940.

She began Bible studies in 1942-43 at Elim Bible School at Yarrow, B.C where she met Abe Sawatsky, and they were married June 4, 1944.

The next year, she attended Prairie Bible Institute at Three Hills, Alberta. Leona and Abe studied at MB Bible College in Winnipeg, then served together some 20 years in Aldergrove, B.C.; Saskatoon, Sask.; Kelowna, B.C.; and Huron, S.D. USA.

Shortly after the family returned to Canada for Abe’s cancer treatments, he died on August 5, 1966, when Leona was 42. Carried by her faith in God, Leona raised their six children who were still at home.

With God as her strength, she grew in independence and determination. Leona worked at Columbia Junior College and Block Brothers Realty in Vancouver where she found joy and respect. The Sawatsky family supported her.


At Fraserview M.B. Church in Richmond, B.C., Leona served as deacon, choir member and Sunday School volunteer. She travelled to Indonesia, Austria, Israel, Russia and Italy. In 2001, Leona published a memoir, “Close to the Earth”.

Leona lived at Maplewood Senior Care Society, in Abbotsford, B.C. 2013-2017. She modelled devotion to God and family. She biked Stanley Park with her grandchildren. They saw her march for peace and by learning to swim, to conquer fear. Leona endured memory loss with amazing grace.

She passed away October 10, 2017 and was buried at the Yarrow Cemetery where her husband Abram is also buried.

Leona is survived by her children Ken, Marlene Sawatsky Hohm, Dan, Sharon Schermbrucker, Dorothy, David and Ron; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and 4 siblings.

Interment was at Yarrow Cemetery.

See also Close to the Earth. Before We Were the Land's. pp.224-226.