Benjamin Waldner

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our father Benjamin Waldner, on February 20, at his home at the age of 78.

Benjamin will be lovingly remembered by his children: Dustin (Tammy) Waldner, Stacey (Sarah) Waldner, Dwight (Delilah) Waldner, and April (Leo) Sutherland; and his cherished granddaughter, Addison Sutherland.

Benjamin was born on June 22, 1947, at the Blumengart Colony, south of Winkler. Benjamin was born to Paul and Rebecca Waldner. He was raised on the colony by his parents and left at the age of 19, along with some of his siblings. He married Grace and started a family shortly thereafter.

Benjamin lived a quiet life and was a very giving and loyal person. He was a man that didn’t need much and was content with little. He was known for his strong work ethic and his commitment to his family. His quiet and calm demeanor made people feel comfortable and left a lasting impression. His impact was felt by many in different ways.

Dad was an easy-going person. It was important for him to teach his kids about his Hutterite culture. The many trips to all different colonies to go and see his brothers and sisters showed us that no two Hutterite colonies were the same. It allowed us to have different experiences and exposed us to diverse groups of people. Dad was always willing to talk to anybody, no matter what background they came from. Dad was someone who put others’ needs ahead of his own, and looked after others more than himself.

It seemed Dad had an open door to his nephews and nieces that tried life outside the colony. His children remember many of their cousins coming to live with the family for a while as their cousins were figuring things out on the outside.

Dad started working for Pete Siemens in Rosenort on the farm after leaving the colony and as more time progressed, he went into hog production with his brothers. From there dad went into the concrete industry working for Perimeter Concrete, where he enjoyed many years driving concrete mixer. After many years, in the concrete industry building relationships and being known as one of the best drivers when arriving on a job site, Dad retired in Niverville.

A celebration of Benjamin’s life will be held on February 28 at 11:00 a.m. at Crossings Funeral Care in Steinbach, Manitoba.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The War Amps Canada organization.