The MHSA Chronicle Official Publication of the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Volume XXII Number 3 October 2019 Coaldale Centennial Mennonite Pilot Homecoming by Gerry Regehr by Dave Quapp I, Gerhard (Gerry) Regehr, joined the Royal Known Canadian Air Force on February 12, 1951 at the as The Gem age of 19. I had seen recruitment posters and of the West, found them appealing to my sense of adventure. Coaldale As I was being signed up, the recruiting officer was incor- asked me if I spoke a foreign language, and I porated as a answered, “Yes. German." Then the officer village in asked, “How fluent?" I replied, “Fluent." Ten 1919 and as years later this would send me to Germany as a a town in personal assistant to the base commander, a 1952. Its post I held for four years. centennial After joining up, I spent two years working homecoming Dave Quapp as an airman on Sabre aircraft. Then I entered a celebration, pilot training program. In November 1952, I Gerhard Regehr August 3-4, 2019, attracted former went before the Pilot Selection Board in Lon- 1951 Age 19 Coaldalites from all of western Can- don, Ontario. Of the 180 men present from all across Canada, I was one of ada, with a large segment consisting five who were already in the Air Force. Following a battery of tests, 100 of 2nd generation Mennonites. This were sent home, 37 were selected for pilot training, 17 graduated, and sev- event afforded a great opportunity en became career pilots. Two, Larry Rodewolt of St Albert and I, are still to renew acquaintances for chats alive. and arguments. Many discussions I would fly for the next 26 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force centered on the arrival of Mennon- (See Pilot on page 4) (See Coaldale on page 8) In this Issue Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta 1. Mennonite Pilot 1. Coaldale Centennial Fall Conference: 2. Editorial Reflections 2. Chairman’s Corner Alternative Service in WWII, Crisis of Community 10. Peter Bargen’s Service 11. Archeology Date: Saturday Nov 16, 2019, Registration $20, starts at 12:30 pm 15. Jake Isaac, from CO to PhD Time: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Q & A and Faspa lunch to follow 16. Mennonite Heritage Farm Place: The Gem of the West Museum, Coaldale, Alberta 18. Jake Driedger Biography 19. Letters to the Editor Featuring: 20. To God be the Glory Conrad Stoesz, Archivist, 22. Borscht 27. Mennonite Heritage Week Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg 28. Fall Conference ***** See the poster on the back page for more details 2 - Volume XXII Number 3 The MHSA Chronicle October 2019 Editorial Reflections Winnipeg. He said, "When I first excursion to Manitoba and Sas- by Dave Toews saw your name as editor of MHSA katchewan recently to see all things Chronicle, I thought I should Mennonite. (See my article May the A lot has know this man, but I couldn't place Borscht be with You in this issue of happened since you." Needless to say I have been the Chronicle.) I last talked to flying under the radar for years. The Saskatchewan Roughrid- you on this fo- This summer I played in two ers' record is 9 and 4 so far this rum. I have fund-raising golf tournaments: season, and they are definitely on been to Sas- MCC and Mennonite Mutual In- track to win the Grey Cup! katchewan three surance of Alberta (MMI). We If you know someone who is times and to raised a total of about $127,000 interested in the MHSA and is not Calgary twice. It between the two. The MMI tour- yet a member, consider using the has been a Dave Toews nament was for the Edmonton enclosed gift membership form to rainy, cool, but Mennonite Guest Home (EMGH), give him or her a Christmas gift. busy summer. From the beginning a home for out-of-town patients Thank you to all the authors of June through the end of August and their families being treated in and contributors to this issue. Your we did not have two consecutive Edmonton hospitals. The EMGH articles are always appreciated. It is days without rain. I sincerely hope is a project of the Church of God a pleasure to work with you. the farmers can get the crops in off in Christ (Holdeman) Mennonites. the fields. I met a number of interesting The MHSA welcomes your I am in my 12th year as editor Holdeman people there including feedback, emails, letters to the edi- of this publication, not in the 11th construction company owner Den- tor, and articles. Contact Dave as I thought. I just double-checked. ver Eidse from Bowersville, Geor- Toews at [email protected] I shudder to think of what we put gia, and building designer Galen with any questions or comments. out in some of those early issues. Wiebe from Stettler, Alberta. Hope you can all make it to the fall Maybe some of you also do, shud- The Alberta Mennonite Herit- conference in Coaldale. ❖ der that is? Recently I spoke with age Cultural Centre (AMHCC) has Jon Isaak, director of the Centre occupied some of my time this for Mennonite Brethren Studies in summer as well. The AMHCC is a project of Ernie and Linda Wiens, Chairman’s Corner Sherwood Park, Alberta. (See Er- by Ken Matis Mennonite Historical Society of nie's article in this issue.) Alberta Chronicle ISSN 1916-6966 Dave Dyck and I went on an With All is published three times a year. Saints Day Send submissions and other MHSA Executive (November 1) correspondence to: Chair: Ken Matis, Lethbridge and Remem- Dave Toews, Editor Vice Chair: Katie Harder, Didsbury ([email protected] ) Secretary: Jake Driedger, Calgary brance Day Subscription is through membership Treasurer: Jake Retzlaff, Calgary (November 11) ($30.00/year or $500.00 lifetime). soon to be upon To join, send payment to: Members at Large: us, I want to MHSA Ernie Wiens, Sherwood Park share my grand- #223 - 2946 32 Street NE Bill Franz, Red Deer father Willi Ken Matis Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7 David Jeffares, Edmonton Schmidt's mem- Sigrid Warkentin, Calgary Editor: Dave Toews oirs of his days as a Mennonite Verne Klassen, Duchess Copy Editor: Carolyn Wilson forced to fight in WW II for the Dave Toews, St Albert Layout: Harvey Wiehler Polish Army and then the German Distribution: Bill Janzen GAMEO Representative: Army. The following are his own Membership List: Ellie Janz Vacant words as recorded in The WW II Memoirs of Willi Schmidt - a Mennonite Visit our Website: MAID Representative: Soldier. www.mennonitehistory.org Vacant (See Chairman on page 3) 3 - Volume XXII Number 3 The MHSA Chronicle October 2019 (Chairman from page 2) others lost their lives. On my side through experience. of the family I lost a brother, a After eight months we re- Our wedding date was Novem- cousin, and a cousin's son; on my ceived an order to go back to the ber 12, 1932. Our meeting was not wife's side she lost a brother, her place where we once lived in or- difficult as we lived in the same mother, and a brother-in-law. der to be reunited with other village of Zyck, Poland. The young We can never thank God families. Whoever was guilty of people got together every Sunday enough for His goodness and mer- anything would be punished, and at different places where we both cy to us. there were guilty ones among the joined in. The casual acquaintance When the war was over, we German people. However, the became a serious relationship, and were surrounded by the Russian Polish lady where we lived didn't after some time we married. My army. An idea came to me: I want to let us go since we were wife received some land from her dressed in civilian clothes, and as a already together as a whole fami- parents, and I received money result I was not taken as a prisoner ly. The village mayor told us to from mine so that we were able to of war. The Russians sent me with leave secretly: if they didn't catch buy some additional land. We all the German civilians to an area us, all would be well; if they did were able to make a good living on where each person was to receive catch us, he didn't know what the farm having animals and fruit their just due. It was quite near to would happen to us. Instead, the trees. The government at the time our home, but when we got off the Polish lady made arrangements was favorable; we had our own train there was a checkpoint. Our with the police for us to stay with German schools and had German names gave us away as being Ger- her. However, the conditions in services in our own churches. man, so the Poles immediately took that area were very bad for Ger- We lived in peace and quiet us to the prison where we were mans. On Sundays my wife had until that terrible war came in 1939 abused and beaten. It was so brutal to work for the police. When the between Germany and Poland, and that I fainted twice. When I day was over, the police told us everything was destroyed. I was awoke, I was completely wet. (The to come into the office and they forced to enlist as a Polish para- Poles had poured water on me to would pay us. Instead, they beat medic.