Biographical Sketch

Johann Warkentin, the son of Jakob Warkentin and Helena Dyck Warkentin was born in Nieder-Chortitza, South Russia. He immigrated to Winkler, Manitoba in 1879 and married Sara Loewen (1860–1930) in 1881. Warkentin taught school for eight years. He was the teacher at Hoffnungsfeld, Manitoba when Elder Heinrich H. Voth and David Dyck first came from the United States as itinerating ministers. Warkentin was baptized and joined the MB Church in 1890. He soon became an active Sunday-school worker and director in singing. The Winkler MB Church elected him to the ministry and ordained him in 1895. In 1906 he was entrusted with the pastoral leadership of the church, a work he fulfilled until 1930. In addition he also frequently ministered in surrounding churches. Warkentin was active in the MB Conference, serving for some time on the Board of Directors for Foreign Missions. His daughter Helen became a missionary to India. After the death of his first wife, he married Elizabeth Hooge Dyck. He died at his home at Winkler on May 18, 1948, and was buried in the local MB cemetary.
Taken from the Mennonite Encyclopedia and from information by Bill Schroeder.