Helen UNRAU

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

UNRAU: Helen (Thiessen) Unrau. Helen was born on September 7, 1950 to Jacob and Maria Thiessen in Altona, MB. She was the youngest of 7 children which included sisters Tina, Mary, Anne, and Elma, along with brothers Ed and Jake. Helen’s family lived in the New Hope District near Altona until she was 3 years old, after which her family moved to a farm near Lena, south of Killarney. Helen was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus into her life at a young age. Her family attended the Lena Mennonite Church and then later the Bay Avenue Mennonite Church in Killarney, where she was baptized as a young adult. Helen attended the Jacques School from grades 1-8 then finished grades 9-12 at Killarney Collegiate Institute. After high school, she attended Altona Bible College for one year. After college, she returned home where she started working as a phone operator in Wawanesa and later as a bank teller in Killarney. Helen met the love of her life, a young lad from Boissevain named David, and they married on September 26, 1970. They first lived at the old Taylor farm near Ninga followed by a stint at the Isaac farm. In 1976, they moved to the Jake Unrau farm of 18-4-18, where they have resided for the past 37 years. They began attending the Boissevain MB Church where they still attend. In 1975, David and Helen had the first of their four sons, Darren, followed by Curtis, Jeremy, and Sean. They spent the next 30 years or so raising their family as well as running the family farm, hurrying kids off to school, camping, shopping trips to Minot, and attending so many hockey games that were too numerous to count. Helen loved to garden, sew, camp, quilt, and spend time visiting with family and friends. David and Helen were very proud to have all four of their boys married. They were blessed with nine grandchildren. Helen kept busy working part time at the Ninga cafe, helping out with the Ninga ladies group, working at MCC in Brandon, serving at her church, and attending Wheat King games. We guess she was in hockey withdrawal. On the morning of May 24, 2013, after a 4-year battle with cancer, with her family by her side, Helen passed away peacefully in Palliative Care in the Boissevain Hospital. She was 62 years old. She was predeceased by her parents Jacob and Maria Thiessen. She is survived by her husband, David, children Darren (Vicky), Curtis (Angela), Jeremy (Cheryl), Sean (Candace), nine grandchildren, and her four sisters and two brothers, along with their families. Never one to complain and always lending a hand, she will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched. Although she was taken from us much too soon, we know we will see her again at Jesus’ side in Heaven; perhaps waiting for us with our favorite meal and a big hug. Never one to flaunt her faith, she lived each day serving her Lord Jesus Christ, as an example to all of us who were blessed to share our lives with her. We can take solace knowing that where she is now, she is no longer suffering and is looking down on us with a smile. We can only imagine her telling stories to her mom and dad, laughing so hard she can’t finish the story. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:13 “We miss you Mom and will always love you”.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jun 08, 2013