Katharina Wiens

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Katharina Bergmann nee Wiens (1887-1980)

Based on chapter 4 of my book Of Russian Roots and Canadian Migration, second edition. Also see her obituary.

Biography of Katharina Bergmann nee Wiens (1887-1980)

Katharina Wiens, my great-grandmother, was born May 7, 1887 on the private estate Hochfeld, Schoenfeld Colony, South Russia to Gerhard Jacob Wiens and Sarah nee Regehr. She was the oldest daughter of nine children. She had one older brother, five younger brothers, and three younger sisters.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Katharina’s youth was her family’s affluence. She grew up on a beautiful estate that was tended by gardeners. Servants in the house waited on the family and tailors visited to sew beautiful corsets for the girls. Katharina and her siblings were taught privately on the estate. As secure as the family might have been financially, the challenges of life, however, did not pass them by.

When Katharina was about fifteen, her parents desired to leave their estate and move to Steinbach, Molotschna. This was Katharina's Mom's birthplace and where much of her family lived, and it was a community that could provide good Christian influences. Katharina's father arranged for the family to move to Steinbach, Molotschna, but never lived to see the move. When Katharina was sixteen, her father passed away. Later that year, the family proceeded with the move.

On June 5, 1907, at age 20, Katharina was baptized in Steinbach, Molotschna and became a member of a denomination closely related to the Mennonite Brethren Church, the Allianz Gemeinde.

Katharina was introduced to her future husband through her brothers David and Heinrich, who became friends with an Abram P. Bergmann of Ladekopp, a comrade in the forestry service. Katharina had seen unhappy marriages around her and thought she might not want to marry. She prayed to the Lord for a sign that, if she should marry, the suitor would say specific words to her. One day, the bachelor Abram P. Bergmann, whom she had met on perhaps two occasions, paid her an unexpected visit. He asked Katharina’s mother for permission to speak with Katharina. To her surprise, Abram came to propose marriage. But what was most remarkable was that he said the exact words she had prayed about! She was startled by the direct sign from God. A short while later, she accepted Abram's proposal, whereupon he asked her to kneel with him in prayer to seek guidance for the future. Katharina was further encouraged by his display of commitment to the Lord.

Katharina Wiens and Abram Peter Bergmann married on May 13, 1912 in a newly built barn in Steinbach, Molotschna. Katharina wore a beautiful, new, white dress. Her groom was a handsome man, 27 years old, with strong leadership abilities and a love for the Lord. Some months later, the newlyweds purchased a substantial property (Vollwirtschaft) in Rückenau, Molotschna. The house was reportedly one of the finer in town.

Ten and a half months after the wedding, Katharina gave birth to her first child, Mary. Her second child, Sarah, followed fifteen months later.

About two years into their marriage, World War I broke out and Abram was conscripted into medical service. For the next three plus years, Katharina seldom saw her husband. One can only imagine how challenging it must have been for Katharina to run the farm on her own while caring for two young children and giving birth to two more family additions, Peter and Helen. Her son Peter, in fact, was several months old before Abram saw him for the first time.

During the lawlessness of the Russian Civil War, Katharina’s husband was back from medical service but was at times engaged with the Self-Defense corps (Selbstschutz). Katharina’s brother-in-law, Johann Bergmann, was living with the family and her parents-in-law made periodic overnight visits for their safety. During this time, the Rote Stab decided, without Katharina and Abram’s permission, to establish their headquarters in the Bergmanns’ living room for three months. Katharina, who had to cook for the intruders (ten men and two women), and Abram tried to shield their children from harm. By the grace of God, no family members were assaulted. During this turbulent time, Katharina gave birth to her fifth child, Henry.

In 1920, Katharina contracted typhus and had a close brush with death. She became very ill and lay unconscious for three very long days. Yet the Lord spared her life and she recovered fully.

In the winter of 1921-22, famine broke out in the Molotschna. Katharina’s fine possessions, among other valuables, were sold on the black market to raise money to feed her family and extended family. The Lord provided six bags of peas that saved the household from starvation. By this time, Katharina had given birth to her sixth child, George.

In the summer of 1923 Katharina gave birth to her seventh child, Elizabeth.

On July 4, 1925, Katharina and Abram began their move to Canada with their seven children. Meanwhile, Katharina was nearly full term with Abe. The hardest part of the journey for Katharina occurred before they left—she said farewell to her beloved mother whom she would never see again in this life. The Bergmanns arrived, safe and sound (aside from the measles), in Hochfeld, Manitoba, one month later. Fifteen days after that, Katharina gave birth to Abe.

Katharina , Abram, and family moved to the Steinbach area in 1926. For the first eleven years the family suffered successive crop failures and lived in dire poverty. But there was much more to life than finances. The family was happy and safe. Katharina and Abram continued raising their children to know the Lord. All the children, some sooner than others, came to make personal commitments to love and serve God.

In 1937, the family turned a corner financially with their first good harvest. This same year, Katharina and Abram celebrated a very emotional silver wedding anniversary. Having experienced many difficult and dangerous times, the couple wasn’t sure they would live to see this day. Many tears were shed. Two years later, she and Abram purchased the Sand Pit Farm. A year after that, their children began to marry.

In 1949, Katharina and Abram moved into their retirement home, the Husky House. The household was less busy by this time and the couple had more leisure time. Katharina enjoyed good health until she developed stomach ulcers. Two-thirds of her stomach were removed, but she recovered fully.

In 1961, Katharina and Abram, together with daughters Helen and Mary, moved to a house on Lumber Avenue, Steinbach, Manitoba. Katharina turned 74 years old. Ten years later, her beloved husband, Abram Peter Bergmann, passed away at age 86. By this time, Katharina was very appreciative of the care she received from her two unmarried daughters, Mary and Helen, who lived with her.

Katharina (Wiens) Bergmann, passed away January 11, 1980, in Steinbach, Manitoba at the age of 92 and was buried in the Memorial Cemetery in Steinbach.

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