Fonds PP - Heidi Koop fonds

Adelheid (Heidi) Else Koop was born in Winnipeg on April 27, 1939, to Peter and Mariechen (Dyck) Koop. She graduated from Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI) in 1958, and after completing studies at the Manitoba Teachers College, began teaching elementary school in 1959 at Princess Margaret School in North Kildonan. This is where she remained until 1966, when she moved to Lord Kitchener School for one more year of teaching.

In September 1967, Heidi began studies at the University of Manitoba, graduating with the Bachelor of Home Economics and Bachelor of Education degrees in 1970. She then taught Home Economics at Springfield Collegiate in Oakbank, Manitoba, for two years before moving to Mennonite Brethren Communications to be the office manager from 1973 to August 1975.

At that time she moved to Elkhart, Indiana, U.S.A. to begin her seminary studies at the Associated Biblical Seminary. This was a rich time for Heidi, both academically and socially; she was challenged theologically and found many kindred spirits. She was able to take recreational painting classes. She graduated with the Master of Divinity degree in 1978, and returned to Canada to teach Church Ministry in Altona, Manitoba, at the Elim Bible Institute until 1981. It was while she was living in Altona that her older sister, Edith, died of an aneurysm at age 45.

Heidi was Dean of Students when she resigned and returned to Winnipeg to work at the Bethania Personal Care Home as a Research and Outreach Coordinator. This was followed by working as the Resource Coordinator for the Huntington's Disease Resource Centre, but in 1981 it was time to return to school for more graduate studies, this time earning a Master of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1983.

Always an active member of River East Mennonite Brethren Church, Heidi was appointed Deaconess, also in 1983. Her professional life concluded at the University of Manitoba as faculty advisor for 4th year student teachers and managing coordinator for the Educational Gerontology Internship program. Alongside her studies and work, Heidi regularly had articles published and at the time of her death had published four books, and had an unpublished manuscript of a fifth: Peter, a man of stamina and courage, 1979; The hell of God's call, 1991; A healthier you: a layperson's guide to optimum health, 1995; Surviving the medical maze, 1996, 1997; The band plays on: Mennonite pioneers of North Kildonan reflect, (unpublished) 1998.

Another area of artistic expression for Heidi was painting, which is demonstrated by the substantial body of work she produced.

The last period of Heidi's life was consumed with three significant events: the diagnosis of her cancer in 1986, the final illness and death of her father in 1990, and throughout this entire period, the progression of her mother's Alzheimer's until Mrs. Koop's death in 1998. As the only surviving daughter, Heidi carried the responsibility of making decisions and providing parental care -- a duty which she took seriously, while dealing with her own health crises. Heidi's struggle with cancer was notable for the way in which she resolutely used alternative approaches to combat the cancer; she wrote articles and was invited to speak about her alternative health journey.

Heidi died in Winnipeg on September 18, 2002.