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Reimer, Gerhard (1885–1970) and Margaret (unknown–1980)

Proper Title

Gerhard Reimer and Margaret fonds

Dates of Creation

1904, 1908, 1916, 1929–1932, 1946, 1947, 1960, 1967–1969, 1970, 1973, 1975

Physical Description

5 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch

Gerhard Reimer was born on May 17, 1885, in Wiesenfeld, south Russia, to Johann and Anna (Friesen) Reimer, their tenth child. He finished his high-school education at the Halbstadt Zentralschule in the Molotschna colony. He became a school teacher and taught two years in Blumenau and three years in Danilowka in the Crimea.

He was married in 1912 to Kathie Froese, daughter of Gerhard and Anna Froese of Barwenkowo. He continued his education at the teacher training institute in Jaroslaw and in the University of Kiev. He finished this in 1915 when he was drafted into service and worked in the Russian embassy in Moscow and Yalta. In 1918, he finished his service and moved to the Crimea where he began teaching in the newly opened Bible School.

His wife Kathie died in 1921. On October 21, 1923, he married Margaretha Enns, daughter of David and Margaretha Enns of Fischau, Molotschna. Gerhard’s former student became the mother of his two-year-old son, Ferdinand. In 1925, he and his family immigrated to Canada and settled in Winkler, Manitoba. He became a teacher in the new Winkler Bible School. He taught here in two stints, 1925–1936 and 1945–1949. In 1936, they moved to Leamington, Ontario, and later moved to Kingsville, Ontario.

Gerhard Reimer died in Leamington, Ontario on October 2, 1970. Ten years later, on January 24, 1980, his wife died, also in Leamington.

Custodial History

The material in this collection has come to the Centre at different times. It is unclear when the first portion, files 1–5 were donated, probably by Gerhard’s wife after 1975. The books written by Reimer for the Bible school, files 6–10, have been donated at different times by various people and added to the collection by the staff. File #8 was donated in December of 1981, File #10 was donated by the Unruh Sisters of Winnipeg in 1982. The other files, 6, 7, 9, were donated in 1985.

Scope and Content

The textual materials in this collection contains material related to Reimer’s teaching role in the Winkler Bible School, and some personal material about Reimer such as passports and a biography written by his wife. A small amount of material was placed in the collection after Gerhard died in 1970. Most of the material is in German, with a small amount in Russian.

Notes

  • Volume 1030.
  • Described by Conrad Stoesz, November 15, 1999; updated by Conrad Stoesz, July 26, 2007.
  • Accession nos. 1982–041, unknown.

File List

Volume 1030

  1. News paper clippings and Gerhard Reimer’s obituary. -- 1969, 1970, 1973.
  2. Correspondence. -- 1960, 1970, 1975.
  3. Course outlines and papers on the Bible School in the Crimea. -- 1946, 1947, 1967–1969, 1973.
  4. Margaret Reimer, “Kurz Gefasste Lebensbeschreibung aus dem Schul – und – Gemeinde – Leben Meines Teuren Mannes, Gerhard Johann Reimer: 1885–1970.” -- 1974.
  5. Copies of Passport and diplomas of Gerhard Reimer. -- 1904, 1908, 1916.
  6. G.J. Reimer, “Menn. Bibelschule Pniel. Sprachlehre (Satzlehre nach Wetzel) Kursus der 4. Klasse,” Winkler. -- 1931.
  7. G.J. Reimer, “Menn. Bibelschule Pniel. Pädagogik Kursus der 3. Oder 4. Klasse,” Winkler. -- 1929–1930.
  8. G.J. Reimer, “Bibl. Psychologie I. Teil 3. Klasse,” Winkler. -- 1931–1932.
  9. G.J. Reimer, “Biblische Psychologie 2 Teil,” Winkler. -- 1931.
  10. G.J. Reimer, “Biblische Naturgeschichte Leitfaden fuer Bibelschulen Prediger u. Lehrer,” Winkler. -- 1931.
  11. G.J. Reimer, "Gesangeslehre. Leitfaden für Lehrer, Dirigenten, Sänger und Schulen" [table of contents], Winkler. -- 1931.
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