Marcia Arlene Henzel (Grienke)

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Marcia Arlene Henzel (Grienke) on October 30, 2026, at the age of 72, after a courageous battle with cancer. Having beaten breast cancer at 55 and uterine cancer at 61, Marcia met her third cancer with the same strong faith that carried her throughout her life.

Marcia was born on February 19, 1954, at Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, the eldest of six children of Edwin and Katarina Grienke (Schroeder). She grew up in the Friedensfeld community, where she attended her first six years of school and where the community hall, built mostly by volunteers, held so many of her happiest memories. As the eldest, she was a significant presence in her younger siblings’ lives, helping her mother care for them until she married and left home. Marcia was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Friedensfeld, was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Steinbach, and was married in the Lord of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. She lived her faith all of her days.

Marcia met Larry through his sister Judy, who worked alongside her at the ice cream shop in town, and they were married on April 4, 1970. They shared more than 56 years together and were affectionately known as “the bickering Henzels.” But Marcia always set the record straight: “This is the way we discuss things, and that’s as bad as it gets.” It worked for them. Together they raised three daughters, who, along with their families, were her greatest pride and joy.

For almost 17 years, Marcia and Larry owned and operated the general store and coffee shop in New Bothwell, and Marcia fell in love with the community. Running the store revived her Low German, one of two German dialects she spoke, and she surprised more than a few townspeople who didn’t expect her to answer them in their own language. She taught and mentored many of the town’s young people in their first jobs. Open, direct and honest, and always ready with a quick laugh, she became the town’s coffee shop counsellor, and many people came in for a cup of coffee and stayed for her advice.

Marcia gave generously of her time. She served 11 years as a trustee on the Hanover School Board and on many church and community boards and committees, enjoying, in her words, “the people and the work.” St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Steinbach was her church home from the early 1970s on. There she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir for many years and was a faithful member of the funeral lunch crew.

Family was at the heart of everything. Marcia believed you always show up for family, you’re there for them in good times and bad, and you never go to bed angry. Like her mother before her, Marcia could plan, prepare and serve a meal for 50 like no one else, and nothing made her happier than gathering everyone around the table for good food and fellowship. In 2006, she and Larry bought a cabin to bring the family together, and for 13 years it was the place for treasured time with their children and grandchildren.

Marcia loved golf and loved to dance, whether a waltz, polka, two-step or square dancing. She and Larry spent more than 40 years of football and Grey Cups with their “football gang” and were Winnipeg Blue Bombers season ticket holders for 44 years. She treasured friendships that lasted more than 50 years, many built on good times that didn’t cost much at all.

Faith carried Marcia through every season of life. Her favourite poem, “Footprints in the Sand,” reminded her that God carried her through the hardest times. In a letter of thanks she wrote to her family and friends, she said, “I have had a beautiful life surrounded by loving people. I am not afraid to die.” Her hope for each of us was that we let God into our lives, because “He will carry you when you need it, as I have discovered many times.”

Marcia is survived by her loving husband and lifelong partner of over 56 years, Larry; her three daughters, Jennifer and Tom Bessinger, Temara and Troy Pidsadny, and Robin and Norm Paisley; her nine grandchildren, Alexander and Chloe Pidsadny, Madison (Bessinger) and Paul Burley, Luci (Bessinger) and Zach Baudler, Tatijana (Pidsadny) and Teagan Doerksen, Caleb and Taylor Paisley, Isabella Paisley and fiancé Braden Birnie, Drew Pidsadny, Ty Paisley and Gavin Pidsadny; and her six great-grandchildren, Madden, Ellis and Banks Pidsadny, Hayes Paisley, Weston Doerksen and Sophia Burley. She also leaves behind her five siblings, Calvin Grienke, Mavis Krentz, Terence (Tracey) Grienke, Marla (Monty) Seper and Meriena (Brian) Dowhy; her five siblings-in-law, Joan Patrick, Marlene (Ed) Friesen, Edie (Allan) Butland, Judy (Ken) Holme and Bev (Cliff) Schmidtke; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Edwin Grienke (2006) and Katarina (Schroeder) Grienke (2020); her parents-in-law, Carl Henzel (1985) and Effie (Michalski) Henzel (2012); her great-grandchildren, Lincoln and Porter Doerksen (2025); her brother-in-law, Taras Patrick (2006); her nephew, Kevin Holme (1991); and her niece, Wendy (Patrick) Melnyk (2023).

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Bethesda Regional Health Palliative Care Team, Silver Lining Care and Crossings Funeral Care for their kindness and compassion; to the Bethesda Foundation, whose support helped make the hospital’s Palliative Care Unit possible; and to her Grienke and Henzel siblings and friends who visited, brought food and prayed.

Viewing will take place on Thursday, November 5, beginning at 8:45 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery on PTH 12, followed by the interment at 9:30 a.m. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Steinbach, with Rev. Dr. Tim Perry and Rev, Terry Gudmundson officiating. All are welcome to attend any or all of these. Lunch and fellowship will follow the service in the church’s lower-level fellowship hall. Marcia helped plan the meal herself, and nothing would make her happier than seeing everyone gathered around the table.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Paul’s Cemetery Memorial Fund.

In Marcia’s own words: “May God bless you all the days of your life.”