| Notes |
- (Research):BYRON SWARTZENTRUBER
April 17, 1959 - November 5, 2009
With great sadness in our hearts, but
also with happiness in celebration of
his life, we announce the passing of
Byron Swartzentruber. Surrounded
by his family and friends, Byron
peacefully left us the evening of
November 5th, 2009. Byron is survived
by his wife of 27 years, Connie;
daughter, Kerri (Ken); and sons,
Ryan and Adam. Also left to cherish
his memory are sister Margaret
(Earl) of Cambridge, Ontario; brother
Ralph (Sandra) of Woodstock, Ontario;
and nieces and nephews Wendy (Isam),
Mary Lynn (Joe), Mark (Laura),
Denise (Ken), Duane (Nicole), Donna
(Jeremy) and Darolyn (Mike), and
their families; also Connie's parents
Ed and Kathy Hildebrand of Winnipeg,
Manitoba; her brothers Gerald
(Barb) and Daryl, and niece and
nephew Taren and Eric. Byron was
predeceased by his parents Elroy and
Verda. Byron was born and raised in
Hickson, Ontario. The youngest of
his siblings by many years, he enjoyed
life on the farm. His father
passed when he was 18, and shortly
after he began work at Erb
Transport, the company he would
ultimately work for his entire life. He
started his career as a driver, and
finished as the Operations Manager
for the Erb Transport Winnipeg
terminal, successfully growing that
region of the business exponentially
through his strong leadership and
work ethic. In 1980, while at the MCC
Relief Sale in New Hamburg,
Ontario, Byron met his future wife
and soul mate, Connie. Her attempts
at deflecting his affections were unsuccessful,
and ultimately she gave
in to his persuasive nature. They
married in 1982 in Crystal City,
Manitoba, and went on to have three
wonderful children, Kerri, Ryan and
Adam. In 1998 the family moved from
New Hamburg, Ontario to Winnipeg,
Manitoba. Those who knew Byron
understood the immense pride and
joy he took in watching his children
grow and mature into the amazing
people they are today. Byron was
able to touch a multitude of lives in
many different ways. He approached
life with an unbridled sense of optimism,
and was always delighted to
meet new people. Whether it was on
vacation across Canada, or even on
other continents, it never ceased to
amaze that Byron would come across
someone he was connected to. We
will miss hearing his stories upon
return from vacation that inevitably
began with "You'll never guess who I
met…" A strong faith and active
involvement in his church, Sterling
Mennonite Fellowship, created an
incredible group of friends. The
Swartzentruber family is so grateful
for all of the friends and family who
supported them and Byron through
his recent and sudden affliction with
cancer, and is also appreciative to
the wonderful staff at Health Sciences
Center and the Palliative Care Unit
at St. Boniface Hospital. Visitation
will be held Monday, November 9, at
7:30 p.m. at Friends Funeral Service,
2146 Main Street, Winnipeg, followed
by a celebration of Byron's life
Tuesday, November 10, at 1:30 p.m. at
Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church,
500 Lagimodiere Boulevard, Winnipeg.
If friends so desire, donations may be
made in Byron's memory to
Mennonite Central Committee.
Please contact the Glendinning
Funeral Home, Plattsville, Ontario at
519-684-7409.
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1959 - 2009 (50 years)
, d. 28 Jan 1978, Hickson, Oxford Co., Ontario 