LEONTINE (LENI) HERZOG

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LEONTINE (LENI) HERZOG On April 18, 2018, at the age of 90, Leni Herzog unexpectedly left this life to join her Saviour. She was much loved and will be sorely missed. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Hannelore Potschka, (Dietmar), son Wilf (Isolde) of Köln, Germany, and son Steven (Trina), granddaughter Kristy Bruyere (Martin), granddaughter Lauren Bakun, grandson Johann Herzog, great-grandchildren Max and Sophie Bruyere, sisters Ly Heinelt and Charlotte Müller of Köln, Germany, also other relatives and friends. Leni was predeceased by her parents, both brothers, five brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law. Losing her infant son in her youth and then, her husband Johann, of almost 60 years in 2007, to cancer, devastated her. The loss of her oldest granddaughter, Sherry, in 2017, was also very difficult. Leni was born March 14, 1928 to Adolf and Lydia Häfner, as the second oldest of five children, in Gnadenfeld, Bessarabien, Romania. They lived there until 1940, when Leni was 12. Due to political unrest Leni's family left Romania and lived in various refugee camps until finally being resettled in East Germany in April of 1946. At 18 years of age, Leni found work in a gardening center to help support her family, since her dad had gone missing during the war, four years previously. She met her future husband, Johann Herzog, through her good friend and later sister-in-law, Ida Roesler. After a short courtship, they settled in the village of Göslow, where they farmed and started a family. A daughter, Hannelore was born in 1948. A son, Dieter, was born in 1951, but died of SIDS at the age of six months. Due to concerns about living under communist rule, Leni and Johann, along with daughter, Hannelore, escaped to West Germany, in 1953, leaving everything behind, except what they could carry in a couple of suitcases. Here they again lived in settlement camps until they immigrated to Canada. After a horrific winter crossing of the Atlantic in a refurbished troop ship, they arrived in Winnipeg on January 12, 1954. Two days after arriving in Winnipeg, speaking no English, she started working in the kitchen at General Hospital (now Health Sciences Centre). She worked at various jobs, until the birth of son, Wilfred in September, 1957. After that she was a full-time homemaker. She cooked, baked, canned, crocheted, knitted and kept a house so clean, you could eat off the floors. In August, 1968, another son, Steven was born. Family was important to Leni. She took her role as mother, later, grandmother and great-grandmother very seriously. She would do everything she could for her family. She was very generous with her time, energy and resources, as well as advice. She taught by example. She, as well as our dad, instilled the value of hard work and pride in a job well done, not to mention never being a burden on society. Integrity, loyalty, and obedience to the laws of the land and the laws of God were also stressed. Leni was a woman of faith, which certainly helped through the tough times in her life. She experienced loss many times in her life. However, throughout these lows, her trust in Jesus never wavered. Leni was very generous and supported many worthwhile charities, especially those devoted to helping people in need. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice in her memory. Funeral service will be held on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Rowandale Baptist Church, 162 Rowandale Avenue, with Pastor Jonathan Kroeker officiating. Viewing prior to the service. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens.
Publish Date: Apr 28, 2018

LEONTINE (LENI) HERZOG Suddenly, on April 18, 2018, Leni passed away at the age of 90 years. Funeral service will be held on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Rowandale Baptist Church, 162 Rowandale Avenue, with viewing prior. Interment will follow in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. Longer notice will follow in the Saturday, April 28, 2018 edition.
Publish Date: Apr 21, 2018

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 28, 2018