Ed C. Stoesz

Ed C. (Erdman Cornelius) Stoesz, Altona, Manitoba, passed away at the Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at age 92, after major  surgery a week ago.  He was born on July 23, 1929, to John H. Stoesz and Margaret (Giesbrecht Stoesz) Goertzen, on a farm south of Hordean.

Loving husband, father, grand-father, and great-grandfather, he leaves to mourn his wife of 70 years, Sara (Unger) Stoesz, who survives.  And a brother-in-law, Jacob Unger, Boissevain, Manitoba.  He also leaves to mourn his children and spouses, Donald (Naomi Brubacher) Stoesz, Bowden, Alberta; Dennis (Rhoda Lehman) Stoesz, Morden; Vi Stoesz (Barry Spain), Winnipeg; and Yvonne Stoesz (Brent Gouthro), Tinker Creek, Stanley.

He also leaves to mourn 12 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren: Matt, Kevin (Allison: Emerson and Blake), Justin (Kathleen), and Sonya; Jeff (Tamar) and Phil; Kory (Rachael: Hazel and Odin), Ryan (Sara), and Kalynn (Kyle: Nova); and Miranda (Shawn: Marshall, Mason, Arya), Jared, and Mei.

He was predeceased by his parents, and his two brothers and their wives, John (Sue) Stoesz, and Bill (Dorothy) Stoesz, and a sister and her husband, Helen (Jake Wiebe).

Dad loved visiting with persons, and had a wonderful spirit of doing voluntary service work, together with his wife, for over 50 years, including at the Altona MCC Thrift Shop.  He would recycle everything (not wanting to waste) long before it became fashionable, and rang true to how he lived.  He was grateful that he was able to provide a living through his appliance store, and by being an electrician.  Later, he committed himself to being a caregiver to his wife after she began declining 10 years ago with dementia.  He said that was his third job.  He kept up with his grandchildren, and especially loved young children, and was glad to have great-grandchildren.  His advice to them was 1) Always be open to learn new things through-out your life, 2) Maintain a peace position, 3) Live a life of service, and 4) We do the best we can with what we have.

The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors and staff at the Health Science Center, GA3 Step Down Unit, for excellent care for our Dad this week.  We had good visits in person and by phone with him as he was talkative all week, except for the decline his last 2-3 days. 

The funeral will be held at Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church on Saturday, March 12, at 2 pm, with everyone invited for faspa afterwards.  A livestream of the service will be available on the church website or by clicking on the following link:

Ed C. Stoesz funeral livestream 

Viewing is from 1-9 pm. on Friday, at Wiebe Funeral Home, Altona, and before the service. Burial will be a private ceremony at a future date at Altona Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, an agency of which Dad had a fundamental belief in its work, or to the Canadian Food Grains Bank.

To view the funeral service click on the video link below.