Reimer, David P., 1894-1963

Person

Reimer, David P., 1894-1963

• Reimer, D.P.

1894-1963

David Reimer (1894-1962) was 12th child of 16 born to Peter (1845-1915) and Maria (1850-1934) (Plett) Reimer in the village of Blumenort, Manitoba. He attended the village school in Blumenort from 1900-1908. In 1910 he moved with his parents to a location one and half miles north of the village where he lived for the rest of his life. Much of his English education which led him to begin a career as a teacher, was received by correspondence courses. In 1914 he married Justina Brandt. Together they had twelve children.

In 1929 Reimer was called to the ministry in the Kleine Gemeinde (known as the Evangelical Mennonite Church (Canada) after 1952). Part of his responsibilities included representing the church when dealing with issues of colonization and new settlements. In 1935 the church launched a periodical entitled Christlicher Familienfreund, and Reimer served as the editor until 1959 and as assistant editor from 1959 until 1963. In 1941 he became heavily involved with the Conscientious Objector question (CO). He was a member of the executive of the Aeltestenkomitee (Committee of Elders). He was one of the delegates from the Aeltestenkomitee that went to Ottawa to discuss Canada's original promise of military exemption for Mennonite men. He also provided pastoral support to the COs who worked in the labor camps. In 1948 he was elected as an Aeltester (bishop or elder). During the post WW II years he remained in Manitoba while his brother, Bishop Peter P. Reimer was a leader of a significant number of families that decided to emigrated from Canada and settle in South and Central America due to their growing distrust of the Canadian government. David P. Reimer continued his involvement with interdenominational organizations concerned with the peace and war issues.

From 1946 till 1959 David P. Reimer served on the Mennonite Encyclopedia board and wrote another of articles for this project. He was also involved as the editor of several books -- Experiences of the Mennonites in Canada During the Second World War (194?), and the genealogy book Familienregister der Nachkommen von Grosseltern Kornelius und Sara Plett, (1953).

Steinbach (Manitoba)

Mennonite Kleinegemeinde / Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) minister

GRANDMA ID: 13726

added historical sketch written by Sharon H.H. Brown, 2002, May 2020, AHR.