Tributes

One of the most treasured memories are the one-on-one times spent with my dad going on dates. Being a pastor my Dad had to attend a lot of meetings; but he took time to take me and my brothers out on these ‘dates.’ Whether we went shopping, to the park, or to look at cars; we always had such wonderful times. I will never forget the feeling when my friends asked why my Dad was picking me up from school; and I could, say that he was taking me out on a date. Not very many daughters can write on a Father’s Day card, at age 16, that going on dates with their dad will probably be the best remembered dates ever! Even after I got married, Dad and I enjoyed many breakfast dates together. Last year when Dad had to go to the Cancer Clinic for daily treatments of a virus, I would go with him most Monday mornings. In the clinic Dad would always chat with the nurses and ask how their day was going. Even when one of the nurses’ daughter was in a car accident, Dad made sure he asked how her daughter was doing. When the nurse said her daughter was uninjured, Dad said, ‘I prayed that your daughter would be safe. Praise the Lord!’ The nurse was surprised but touched by Dad’s statement. I was always so proud to be his daughter!!

Dad had a passion for and believed in prayer. When he couldn’t sleep at night he would pray for the people he had on his Cancer Prayer List. He would pray earnestly for the unsaved children and adults in our family and in the church; but I will cherish the prayers he offered daily on behalf of me, Reyn, Andrew, Jason, Lynn, Justin, and Andrea. Through my Dad’s prayers God guided us individually and as a family in hard times. Growing up we knew, without a doubt, that Dad loved us dearly. Not a day has gone by without saying ‘I love you’ to each other. Dad also had a special place in his heart for his grandson Andrew. During the time Dad was going through his bone marrow transplant, there was a period of time that Andrew was not permitted to go onto D6; because of contact with the chicken pox virus. One day Andrew said he really wished he could go in and see Grandpa, so Reyn went into Dad’s room to see if he had enough strength to walk to the glass doors and wave at Andrew. Even though Dad was very sick, he was so excited to hear that Andrew was there. He got on his robe and glasses and walked slowly with his IV pole to the double glass doors. I was holding Andrew so he would be at face level with Dad. Dad put his hand on the glass and Andrew matched his hand with Grandpa’s hand. Then Dad, with tears in his eyes, said ‘I love you!’ and Andrew did the same. Andrew, Grandpa loved you SOOO much!

Dad would always encourage us in whatever way he could. As a father and as a pastor, encouraging and appreciating others was so close to his heart. Dad even had some encouragement cards printed for church and on the front of the card was the verse Hebrews 10:24, 25:

Let us think of one another and how we can encourage one another to love and do good deeds. Let us do all we can to help one another’s faith, and this the more earnestly as we see the final day approaching.

I believe that my father loved and practiced this verse; even as his final day was drawing nearer. Mom said that quite often over the past months, Dad would think of people who might need a call of encouragement. Dad would call widows to see how they were doing; or call people who were sick (though he was very sick himself) and encourage them through prayer and God’s love for them. But the most significant prayer of love, support, and encouragement my father offered to me was at my wedding. Family and God were the focal part of our wedding ceremony. Reyn and I wanted our fathers to offer us a prayer of blessing before we were pronounced husband and wife. The prayer my father offered was very special to me that day; but as I reflect on its meaning and what was to follow, it will be the prayer closest to my heart and I will cherish it dearly. It went something like this:

Reyn and Karis, draw near to God as He continually seeks to draw nearer to you. Until the very day when one lays the other to rest, may they be found, hand in hand, heart in heart, thanking God for each other, always grateful, recognizing that in each other they have a precious gift.

(Mom, I saw this so clearly in your marriage and relationship to Dad!) Dad continued by praying, ‘May he who has begun a wonderful work in you individually and collectively cause it to grow, nurture, develop and blossom into the fullness of beauty until we all celebrate together at the marriage feast of our Lamb!’ Amen.

Dad I can’t wait to celebrate with you in heaven!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!

I’m Reyn Regehr, Norm’s son-in-law. My memories of Norm go back before Karis and I met each other. No, we weren’t classmates as Justin and Jason like to tease me. Norm once was a customer of mine. He used to come to our printing shop to order phone books and other printing supplies for the church he was pastoring. I remember thinking when that Plymouth Caravelle pulled up the driveway, “Oh oh, here comes Norm trying to squeeze a sweet deal on printing out of me.” But really these visits were always quite pleasant. Norm was always so interested in our business—how the presses operate, how business was in general. But basically I think he just liked to chat. I remember thinking how down to earth this guy was and how easy he was to talk to. Looking back I’m sure glad I shaved a couple of dollars off of the printing jobs we did for him because in a few years I would marry his daughter.

Which brings me to the second part of my reflections on Norm. Karis and I started dating back in February of ’98. Norm and Irene were always so supportive of our relationship. Karis once told Norm that she knew it was God’s will that we were together. Norm simply said, “If that was the case then that’s the way it should be.” Just another indication of how Norm trusted God for all decisions. I remember the first time Karis invited my son Andrew and I over to their house in Steinbach for supper. I was terrified. It took about ten phone calls from Karis to convince me to come over, for not only did I have to meet Norm and Irene, I also had to meet her 20-year-old six-foot-something brother Justin, who just happened to be an ex-football player. Having somewhat of a past and being a decade plus older than Karis, I thought I would be closely examined.

Thankfully, it was quite the opposite. Norm and Irene welcomed us with loving arms. From the moment we stepped in the door we felt a sense of love and felt at ease being there. Andrew also, who is usually shy in meeting new people, felt right at home. They were so kind to him. He had a great time there. Norm played pool with him and just kibitzed with him all evening. I could see Norm loved having a little guy around. Norm and I also hit it off that evening as we found out we were both into sports and both cheered for the same teams. I remember thinking, ‘How can this guy be a pastor and have a passion for sports at the same time?’ He even got mad just like me when his team didn’t win. When it came time for supper I just remember the sense of warmth and love around the dinner table. I think even Justin talked to me. This truly was one of the best days I’ve ever had.

As Karis’s and my relationship grew, so to did my relationship with Norm and the rest of the family. I’ll always remember Sundays in Steinbach. We’d go for walks to the park, play games and always have a great meal. Norm acted like such a kid. He would chase Andrew up and down the slide and climb on the monkey bars with him. He would taunt me, saying I couldn’t keep up with him. I remember him putting Andrew into a garbage can for a good hiding place for “Hide and Go Seek.” I will also never forget his athletic ability. He kicked and passed the football with me like he was ready to try out for the Vikings. He also jogged about four miles a day. His stamina always amazed me considering he had been already diagnosed with cancer.

Soon it was time for Karis and I to make wedding plans. Norm and Irene were so supportive of our decision. I couldn’t have felt better knowing they fully trusted me with their wonderful daughter. Norm also wanted to be so involved in making plans for the wedding. He would always sit in offering advice or just listen.

At the wedding, one of the most significant things I will remember is Norm’s powerful prayers and speech. I’m so thankful to God that Norm was able to be there healthy and strong.

As time passed after the transplant, Norm was limited to how much he could do with Andrew. However, he did become a hero to Andrew for his expertise in crokinole. Andrew only wanted to play with Grandpa because he was the expert.

Another memory I have is going truck shopping with Norm. He would always be so gung-ho about it. We would go out, just the two of us, and talk only of cars and trucks. I remember him looking at this hot looking Chevy S-10 truck with the ground effects and spoilers and flames painted on the sides—basically a teenager’s set of wheels. He said to me, “I don’t care what Irene says, this is going to be my next vehicle.” I think both of us were a little disappointed when I finally bought a truck because we couldn’t have these moments together anymore.

In closing, things that will always stand out in my mind about Norm is his incredible positive outlook on everything and his will and determination to overcome his disease. Despite his limitations in sight and his sickness, I never heard him complain. He was always more concerned with other people’s problems than with his own.

My time with Norm was short but a lot of wonderful memories have been stored in my mind. I thank God for these special moments and for the inspiration and example he was of how to live day by day. I will miss watching Sunday afternoon football with him, walks to the park, watching him play with Andrew. But most of all I will miss just talking to him.

Thank You Norm for being so wonderful to us.

My father once told me that relationships with others here on earth was the only thing that would carry on into our eternal life in heaven. This isn’t just something he said; it was something he lived. He poured his love and energy into people. People in the church could sense this, and so could the many others Dad interacted with day to day. He always made time for people and took genuine interest in them. He could never have too many friends.

I am very fortunate to have been his son. The 25 years of life my father shared with me are full of many, many memories. He laughed with me, talked with me, played with me, cried with me—he loved me. Most importantly, he introduced me to my heavenly Father and assisted me in my personal relationship with Jesus. He dedicated his life to others for the glory of God.

Dad helped enhance my prayer life greatly. There were numerous times I feared for my safety and prayed hard while driving with him, playing golf with him, or eating his home cooked meals.

My father loved to laugh and I know he wouldn’t mind if I told a humorous story about the two of us.

Everyone who knew my dad knew he was no Bob Villa. One day our garage door broke. There were two industrial size springs which fully extended when the garage door closed and contracted to pull it up. The springs were several feet long when fully stretched. We opened the garage door and fastened the replacement spring to the door and roof. We looked at each other in amazement after completing this task in such a short period of time. We were used to spending entire afternoons on such things as cabinet doors and towel racks. We started to close the door and clean up our mess. When the door was almost down and the spring was completely extended, it came loose and shot off, traveling at a velocity that I have not seen before. The sound it made hitting the garage wall was shared by the entire neighbourhood. Dad ducked and covered his head as I saw my young life flash before my eyes. God could have taken him home much earlier if that projectile would have struck him.

My father was not afraid to die.

Let me read with you a passage from my dad’s favorite book, the Bible. It’s found in 1 Corinthians 15:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
     “Where, O death, is your victory?
     Where, O death, is your sting?”
     The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
     Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

In the last hours of my father’s life he knew he was going to die. I had gone into his room to see him and was all alone for a few minutes. I said hello to him and held his hand. He was unable to speak because of the respirator tube in his mouth, so he started to signal something to me as he often did to communicate to us. He held up two fingers. I guessed “2” and many other things but was not able to understand what he was trying to tell me. Finally, he took my hand firmly and raised it with his towards heaven. He held our arms up for a few moments squeezing my hand tight in a triumphant manner. I now realize that my father was declaring VICTORY! My father knew that he would have victory over death through Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. Praise God for the life of my father!