Anne Braun

Anne Braun was born on May 24, 1925 in Winkler, Manitoba. She was the last child born to Peter and Helena Redekopp. She had three brothers, Peter, John and Jacob and three sisters, Helen, Nettie and Tina. Her brother, Nicolai, had died at age one, exactly five years before Anne was born. The Redekopp family had emigrated from Ukraine in 1923. Their escape from a country torn apart by WW1, revolution, civil war and anarchy was difficult and dangerous. Anne grew up in the small Mennonite farming village of Gnadenthal, Manitoba. The family lived in a farmhouse that was connected to the barn for the animals. The house still exists today. Her childhood was happy and filled with many church and community events. 

In 1943, when Anne was 18 and had just completed grade 11 at MCI in Gretna, she was asked to be a teacher for one year at the Timlich School, in the nearby village of Arnaud.  The school had 9 students and all the grades. Annie enjoyed her teaching job very much and learned a lot during that school year. Her students and the school administrators told her she did a good job.  Some of Anne’s students told her about their older cousin, John Braun, who was working in Winnipeg at the time. A few times, John rode by the schoolhouse on his Indian motorcycle and Anne would see him. Eventually, they met and fell in love, and got married on November 11, 1945.

The young couple moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia two weeks after the wedding. John’s father, stepmother and two sisters, Eleanore and Hertha, had moved there the year before.  Anne and John bought a small farm on Gladwin Road in 1946. The first few years on the farm were a lot of hard work without much money. The first baby, Ron was born on April 21, 1947. John got his teacher’s certificate and a job in the Langley school district and life became easier. Four more boys were born; Rick, Gordon, Larry and Mark.

In 1962, the family moved to Dawson Creek, B.C. Their first home was in town. John and Anne were instrumental in the growth of the Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church. The family helped with the construction of a new church building. The family embraced a new member when they adopted their daughter, Jody Lynn, in 1964.

In 1968, the family moved to their farm in Progress, B.C. John and Anne had acquired five quarters of homestead land from the government. Many acres were cleared and broken, then put into cultivation and pasture and hay production. A log house and barn were constructed. All the children learned many lifetime skills on the farm. Land clearing, farming, building construction, caring for livestock, gardening, running and maintaining equipment, hunting, preserving food, cooking, firewood cutting and fence building to name a few.

John and Anne were active in the local community. They made friends with their neighbours and helped people in need. They were founding members of the Village Missions Progress Community Church. Their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries were held in the Progress Community Hall.

In the 1990’s, John and Anne moved off the farm into a home in Dawson Creek and lived there for a few years. In 1998 they moved to Agassiz, B.C. and bought a duplex in a retirement community. On their small piece of land around the duplex, they grew a great garden with flowers, fruits and vegetables. They also enjoyed using and working at the Agassiz Community Garden. John and Anne were also active in the Central Community Church in Harrison, B.C. where Mom started a MCC quilting group that is still active today. 

In 2011, Anne and John bought a condo in the Green Gables building in Clearbrook, B.C. Their new home was a block away from Anne’s sister Tina’s condo. Before they could move, John passed away on October 5th at the age of 93. Anne lost her soul mate and best friend.  Mom joined the Clearbrook MB Church where she had previously been a member as a newlywed 66 years earlier.  Since 2018 Anne has lived at the Menno Home and Bevan Village in Abbotsford.

Anne always had a heart for children. One of the reasons she had a large family and then cared for so many foster children, was because she loved children. While there was joy in seeing them grow up, there were also many occasions of frustration. Somehow Mom and Dad were able to work through that, and their work and prayers were blessed.

Anne was also a tremendous hostess. Many people came over to visit, not just for a coffee but a meal and overnight, sometimes for several nights. On one occasion a family dropped by who our parents did not know. They invited themselves in and stayed for several weeks! Anne’s meals were also mostly organic long before that became popular. Her garden, chickens, pigs and Dad’s hunting made her cooking and meals wholesome and tasty.  When Anne got married, she did not have much cooking experience. Her mother and three older sisters had done most of the cooking at home. As a young bride, she taught herself how to cook and bake. Anne also had skills in sewing and knitting. She made many beautiful Cowichan sweaters that her family and friends wore with pride. She continued to knit up into her late 90’s as Hailey Mamm had taught her how to make toques for new-borns and children.  Hundreds of toques were given to ministries to be sent around the world.  

Longevity runs in the Redekopp family as her father passed away at 103 and her mother at 97. We are grateful to have had such a godly Mother and for the long life that she was granted. Anne was preceded by her siblings, her husband John, and her granddaughter Cristin.  She is remembered in love by her sons, Ron (Marion) Braun, Rick (Sue) Braun, Gordon (Colleen) Braun, Larry (Susan) Braun, Mark Braun and daughter, Jody Jensen. She is survived by her sisters in law, Eleanore Isaak and Hertha Warren. She has 13 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Honorary family members Doug & Darlene Ezeard and the Mamm Family.