File 6 - Rempel, Peter A. "Bilder und der Kirchen und Mennoniten Geschichte"

Peter A. Rempel, church leader and farmer, was born on March 25, 1911 in Neuenberg, on the Mennonite West Reserve, Manitoba. He was the second of ten children born to Peter C. and Susanna (nee Friesen)Rempel. He was baptized on May 18,1932 and became a member of the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church. On September 23, 1934, he married Helena Braun. Their marriage produced 14 children including 6 daughters and 8 sons. He published a booklet in 1934 intitled "Bilder aus der Kirchen-und Mennoniten Geschichte" (Images from the Church and Mennonite History). This booklet was used to teach the senior Sunday School class in the village of Reinland. In 1946 Rempel was elected to the ministry and ordained in 1948 by Aeltester Peter A. Toews. He was instrumental in organizing the Reinland Mennonite Church, which broke away from the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church in 1958, as well as the Swift Current Colony in Mexico. Rempel became the second Aeltester of the Reinland Mennonite Church in 1969. During his 50 years of ministry, Rempel preached 1500 sermons and officiated at 53 weddings, 131 funerals, and 173 communion services. He baptized 231 persons, ordained 9 ministers, 2 Aeltesters, 4 deacons and consecrated 2 churches. Rempel lived in Neuenberg, where his grandfather had homesteaded, until 1986 and then moved to Winkler. Peter A. Rempel died in 1996.