Elli Heffke Giesbrecht
Elli was born in Belchatow, Poland on December 4, 1926, the first child of Hermann and Susanna Redlich. During the next couple of years, her parents wrestled with the decision to leave Europe and set out for a better life in Canada. She and her parents left Poland and arrived in Quebec City in August of 1929, when Elli was 2 1/2, they settled at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan for the first year, then moving on to Forestburg, Alberta.
The family moved out to Kelowna, B.C. for the opportunities of fruit orchards and abundance of jobs. Being the oldest of 10 children, it was Elli’s responsibility to care for younger siblings from an early age while both her parents worked to provide for their family. Sunday School, church and youth group were an integral part of her life, and it was at the age of 11 that she made the choice to follow Christ. From an early age she showed a love for music and, with some basic instruction from her father on their treadle organ, she taught herself how to play. Her life-long passion for music provided many opportunities for ministry, as well as earning an income by teaching piano lessons. During her growing up years, Elli often dreamed about being a pastor’s wife.
Elli met Fred Heffke at church youth group in the fall of 1944. He had come to Kelowna to work during the summers while attending Christian Training Institute in Edmonton. They were married June 29, 1946, and welcomed two children into their home. They began a lifetime of ministry, serving churches in Western Canada and Washington state. In every place they lived, Elli made their home warm and inviting, with paint and homemade curtains, etc. One of her great joys was gardening, and her green thumb produced bountiful vegetables, and flower beds that transformed each yard into a paradise.
After 40 years of ministry, Mom and Dad chose to retire in the friendly small town of Vauxhall. When Dad required dialysis three times a week, many friends and neighbours graciously helped out by driving him to Lethbridge, taking some of the burden off of Mom. In the fall of 1995, they moved into a condo in Lethbridge to be closer to medical care. When Dad passed away in December of 1995, Mom did her best to adjust to her new life. She made friends in her condo building and at her church. In 1997 she married Abe Giesbrecht of Calgary. They purchased a home and lived in Lethbridge until October of 2012, when they moved to the Newbrook Lodge in Brooks, to be closer to Judy and Ray. Health issues made it necessary to move to Sunrise Gardens in January of 2019.
Elli was predeceased by her first husband Fred, her parents, one brother, two sisters. She is survived by her husband Abe, her son Don and his wife Sally of Nevada; her daughter Judy and her husband Ray Erker of Brooks; four brothers: Albert, Henry (Linda) and Bill (Jan); two sisters: Agnes (Hugo) Steurle, and Edith Hagen (Glenn); grandchildren Tabitha (Jim) Sloan, John (Melissa) Heffke, Wendy Holloway, and Ben Holloway; 13 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as Abe’s children Cheryl Koeppen and Rawland Giesbrecht, and their families.
A private family graveside service officiated by Pastor Garth Everett was held on Friday, August 6 in the Vauxhall Cemetery. A Celebration of Life, by invitation only, was held on August 7 at Thom’s Funeral Home and Reception Centre in Duchess.
