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Mennonite Archives of OntarioConrad Grebel University College
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6
Phone: 519-885-0220 x24238
Title: John P. and Marianne (Rempel) Driedger family fonds
Dates of creation: 1913-2003
Physical description: 22 cm of textual records
Biographical sketch: John P. Driedger (1920-2010) was born in Ohrloff, Molotschna, South Russia. His family immigrated to Canada in 1924. Driedger was a conscientious objector, serving a term at the Montreal River Alternative Service work camp in 1943. He married Marianne (Rempel) in 1944 in Leamington, Ontario, and was ordained to the ministry at Leamington United Mennonite Church in 1970. He later preached at North Leamington United Mennonite, on a local radio station, and at the Leamington Mennonite Home. As a preacher he was self-educated; his main occupation was farming. John Driedger also served on the local school board.
Marianne Driedger (1922-2018) was born in Tiegenhagen, Molotschna to Rev. Abram I. Rempel (1895-1972) and Margarethe (Willms) Rempel (1901-2001). Margarethe Rempel, also born in Tiegenhagen, was the daughter of Franz M. and Anna (Rempel) Willms. Abram Rempel was a teacher. The family immigrated to Canada in 1925, settling on Pelee Island, Ontario, where they farmed. Abram was ordainted and served as a minister at the Leamington United Mennonite Church (1932-1970), and helped found the United Mennonite Educational Institute (UMEI).
Margarethe Rempel's older half-brother Abram Franz Willms (1877-1957) was married to Katharina Rempel. Katharina "Tina" (Willms) Martens (1902-1979) was born to Abram and Katharina Willms in Muntau, Molotschna, South Russia, the third of nine children. The family immigrated to Canada in 1924, settling first in Manitoba, then Ontario.
Custodial history: Donated to the Archives in 2019 by Carolyn Snider
Scope and content: The fonds consists of personal family documents collected by John P. and Marianne Driedger. They include the sermons of John P. Driedger, personal records of Marianne's parents Margarethe and Abram Rempel, and a commemorative booklet about the life of Marianne's uncle Abram Franz Willms prepared by his daughter, Tina.
Notes: See also the Nicolai and Katharina (Willms) Martens fonds
Original archival description created 2020 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
File list:
See also: “Shattered but not destroyed: Margarethe Willms Rempel, 1901-,” in Unrau, Ruth. Encircled : Stories of Mennonite Women. Newton, Kan.: Faith and Life Press, 1986, 243-254.
Sermons, ca. 1970-2003
Generally 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. An appointment in advance is recommended.
Phone: 519-885-0220 x24238
Conrad Grebel University College
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G6
519-885-0220
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