From: Peter-William Slade
Relation: Colleagues in Book Binding at Garden Park Towers; please see my message.

I was very sorry to read of Dietrich’s passing, especially so soon after Dorothy passed away just last year, whose service I attended. I only knew Dietrich for about five years when I volunteered to join the book binding group in Garden Park Towers; we quickly became friends as, along with John Fast, he helped me learn the skills. We worked well together as a team until Covid-19 interrupted. Dietrich told me of his life in Ukraine during World War II and thanks to his father assisting the doctor of the occupying forces, his father was allowed to stay in Ukraine instead of being sent to Siberia when the country was “liberated” near the end of the War. Hence the united family was able to come to Canada.

I saw Dietrich only recently when I called in at book binding and he was there giving of his service to people, just as he had been doing all his life; hence I was shocked to learn of his passing so soon afterwards. Such a kind and generous person he was, and his is a great loss to the community, his family and his friends. At Dorothy’s service the church was absolutely packed, a testament to the number of lives he and Dorothy have touched. Farewell my friend, I will miss you.

Unfortunately a prior commitment will prevent me attending the service for Dietrich, much to my great disappointment. So would the family please send me his service pamphlet so that I can view the service and then add it to the pamphlet I have for Dorothy? I would sincerely appreciate it. My address is: Peter-William Slade, 18-3115 Trafalgar Street, Abbotsford, BC V2S 8C5

Finally I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family for the loss of a good man, especially so soon after Dorothy’s passing. May God Bless you all.

From: Garth Klassen
Relation: Friend

What a wonderful tribute to your father/grandfather today’s memorial service was! Diet (Dick) was a mentor to me in my 3rd year at Columbia Bible Institute in the winter/spring of 1978. I had already decided on a teaching career, but was challenged to do part of my internship that year with your father/grandpa at West Abbotsford Mennonite church. It was under his tutelage that I preached my first sermon and the seed was planted for future church ministry. The attached picture is from 1978, and apparently Dick took the picture, for he signed the back of it and wrote “With love and high hopes, In Christ, Dick Rempel.” Most of my life I’ve been a teacher, but I have also been a pastor and I continue to have opportunities to preach. I bumped into Dick and Dorothy locally a year or two ago, and was saddened to hear of her passing. I also bumped into Dick at Sevenoaks Mall just a few months ago, and, while he was clearly missing Dorothy, we also shared a moment of understanding as he knew that I, too, had lost my first wife to illness several years earlier. My heartfelt condolences to the family. I treasure the connection I had with your dad and grandpa in some very formative years of my life, and I am thankful for the reunions ahead. I pray you are comforted by that assurance.