To a Life Well Lived

A Eulogy for Mom (Margaret Baerg)

 

Margaret was born to Katherine and Henry Klassen in Gruenfeld, Russia (Ukraine) on 19 March 1916 (Gregorian calendar). She and her parents were part of the 1925 emigration to Canada fleeing the violence of political transition and economic ruin following the 1^st World War

 

Her family eventually arrived in southern Manitoba, living initially in Altona, then Dominion City and eventually settling in Morden. Here she attended Maple Leaf School enjoying family and friends. At 16 she committed herself to the Lord and became involved in the Morden Mennonite Brethren Church teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir. Later on she attended Winkler Bible School where she met her lifelong partner William George Baerg.

 

Initially she and her new husband farmed on a small holding raising cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys and driving a Whippet. Before long however they felt the call to international mission. In preparation they travelled to Prairie Bible School for studies. Initially the door to working in Africa did not open so Margaret and Willie enlisted with the United Church and worked among the First Nations of northern Manitoba. To minister to the communities on their circuit they travelled by canoe in the summer and dogsled by winter.

 

In 1946 they made their way to what was then known as the Belgian Congo via boat from New Orleans. Waylaid by a renegade submarine from the World War II they re-routed to Cairo Egypt. Eventually arriving in Leopoldville they headed to the main Mennonite Brethren mission station of Kafumba for orientation and becoming acquainted with the African continent. They destination, however, was Djongo Sanga in the Dekese. Here they began to learn the local language Dengese as well at the trade language, Lingala. Their task was to build their own home and establish a church, school and medical clinic as they shared the gospel of hope in Jesus Christ. Travel was initially by foot, canoe and eventually by an imported Model-T which necessitated the building of roads. They built strong relationships with people from the local communities and were greatly assisted by them.

 

In the course of her life Margaret raised five children moving them across the Atlantic on numerous occasions as they travelled to and from the mission field on furloughs. At one time, due to health concerns, she travelled to North America alone with the five children and attended to their well-being while Willie remained in the Congo.

 

During the 1960 Congolese independence struggle she and her family had to flee across the Angolan border with many others to save their lives. They found their way to Luanda, Angola where they lived in a refugee camp until they were evacuated to Frankfurt, Germany by the US Air Force and then eventually found their way back to Canada.

 

There were numerous trips back and forth between North America and the African continent as they served the Lord on the mission field in a variety of ways – teaching, training, operating a radio studio, and engaging the church in whatever way helped it to grow. It was a rich and rewarding life that always pushed them to rely on the strength and guidance of the Lord they served.

 

After completing their full time mission work they returned to the African continent on a number of occasions and were blessed with seeing a church take root and grow in its own accord. Their mission was accomplished.

 

After Willie died in 1984 Margaret lived in both the Port Rowan and Virgil communities. Her vision was to serve others. She was a strong prayer warrior and upheld many people in her prayers. She saw her time at Pleasant Manor in Virgil as a gift from the Lord and very much enjoyed the support and services of that community. Her last months were spent at the Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home.

 

Margaret went to be with the Lord she served so faithfully on 14 October, 2013 at the age of 97. She was predeceased by her parents and siblings, her husband Willie and her eldest daughter Edith Lipps. She is survived by her children Eleanor Wall (Jake), Irene Kroeker (John), Bruno Baerg (Lois), and Welma Klassen (Alvin), and many grand and great grandchildren.