Abe Andres

Abram “Abe” Andres, age 97, 7 months and 5 days, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at the Swift Current Care Centre, Swift Current, SK. Dad was born on June 9, 1917, in Skworzawa, Siberia, to Peter & Elizabeth Andres. Because of the Revolution in Russia, Dad immigrated to Canada with his parents and family on April 9, 1927. Their first home was south of Morse Lake, SK and by late fall, Dad’s father bought a small farm – 6 miles SE of Rush Lake, SK where Dad attended the Donnellyville School completing grade 8. As a young man, he worked for various farmers in Saskatchewan and Alberta on threshing crews. Because of Dad’s kind and gentle nature, he was often taken advantage of and did not receive the wages he had been promised. Dad attended the Swift Current Bible School in 1939 – 1940. This is where he met Gertie Olfert and they were married on June 30, 1942. The first year they lived at Cabri, SK where Dad worked on a farm. Soon after, they moved to Braddock, SK where he was able to rent land and begin farming on his own. In 1949, he purchased his first 2 quarters of land, 7 miles NE of McMahon, SK. In 1953, he purchased 40 acres near Iris School and also a large barn 2 miles away. Dad tore down half of the barn and used that lumber to build a new house on the land near the Iris School, he also moved the rest of the barn there…thus establishing a new farm yard. In order to build up the farm, Dad milked up to 12 cows and raised pigs, and in 1960 he was able to purchase another 3 quarters of land. God was a very important part of Dad’s life. He always had family devotions with us, at the breakfast table, reading the Bible and praying for the work of the church. Missions were also important to Dad as was evident by his prayers and financial support throughout his life. Dad & Mom often hosted missionaries in their home. Dad attended the Christian Fellowship Church at Rhineland, SK for almost 60 years, seldom missing a service. During that time, he taught adult Sunday School, served as deacon, was also on the church board, and as chairman for several years. Wednesday night Bible study and prayer time were always attended and when Evangelistic meetings were held, Dad would gladly volunteer to be a councillor. In the last year, when Dad & Mom were unable to read, Dad would often ask for a devotional to be read when we came to visit. Abe is survived by a son, Arnold & Dorothy Andres, Swift Current, SK – Sherri & Deepak Budhrani (Jayesh, Jasmine) of Swift Current, SK, Michael & Becky Andres (Chaise, Kason) of Kamloops, BC, Gerald & Esther Andres (Ainsley, Reid) of Airdrie, AB, Karen & Matt Rousseaux (Alexa, Kyra, Asher) of Swift Current, SK: a son, James & Lorna Andres, McMahon, SK – Ken Andres of Swift Current, SK, Stan & Danielle Andres of Swift Current, SK; a brother, Bernie Andres, Herbert, SK; a sister, Katherine Jahnke, Herbert, SK; sisters-in-law, Mary Andres, Eyebrow, SK, Lena (John) Sawatzky, Swift Current, SK, (Mary) Olfert, Saskatoon, SK; a brother-in-law, John ( Helen) Olfert, Swift Current, SK; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Gertie, June 5, 2014; an infant son, Rodney Andres; his parents, Peter & Elizabeth Andres; a sister & brother-in-law, Elizabeth (Isaac) Derksen; brothers & sisters-in-law, Peter (Mary) Andres, Isaac Andres, Jake (Mary) Andres, Anne Andres, Henry (Irma) Andres, (Art) Jahnke, (Doris) Andres; and by 19 brothers & sisters-in-law of the Olfert family.

Thank you to the staff at the Bentley and the Swift Current Care Centre, for your loving compassion and care for Dad while he resided there. God Bless you all.

The Funeral Service was held on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 2:00 pm from the Christian Fellowship Church, Rhineland, SK, with Pastor Alvin Buhler officiating. The pianist for the service was Dianne Janzen. “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, “What a Day That Will Be” and “I’ll Fly Away” were sung by the congregation under the direction of Pastor Dwayne Easton. The obituary was read by Arnold Andres with tributes shared by Family and by a PowerPoint Presentation. The ushers in the church were Harry Friesen and Gordon Peters. The Interment Service was held at the Christian Fellowship Church Cemetery, Rhineland, SK, with the following grandchildren serving as pallbearers, Sherri Budhrani, Gerald Andres, Karen Rousseaux, Ken Andres and Stan & Danielle Andres.

 Service Information