File 15 - Chortitza by B. Schellenberg

Bernhard John Schellenberg was born on January 27, 1879 in Osterwick, South Russia. His parents were John P. and Sara Schellenberg. His mother was born Sara Friesen and was first married to Johann Andres, after whose death she married John Schellenberg. John and Sara had three children: Bernhard, his brother Abram and another son who died in childhood. Bernhard was trained as a teacher in Russia. He immigrated to Canada in 1923, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and a teaching certificate. He continued to work as a teacher in Canada and also played an important role as the first archivist for the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. He never married. Bernhard loved nature, the Bible and the study of languages. He was baptized in Russia and in Canada was a member of First Mennonite Church in Winnipeg; he also attended Sargent Mennonite Church later. He lived for a time at the seniors' home in Steinbach, Manitoba. In 1963, he was moved to St. Boniface hospital in Winnipeg and then transferred to the St. Boniface sanitorium in 1964, where he died on May 2, 1966.