Obituary of Robert Witmer
To view the livestream of the service, please click here.
Robert was born on a farm halfway between New Dundee and Petersburg, Ontario on May 15, 1929 and died at home surrounded by family on December 2nd, 2021, in his 93rd year.
He is predeceased by his parents Vernon and Vinetta (Shantz) Witmer, his sister Marjorie Shantz (Ralph), and 2 grandsons Chad Bowman and Charles Alexander “Alex” Witmer (Jennifer). He is survived by his wife Anna Lois Martin, his sisters Margaret Hoover (Merle) and Dorothy Phillips (Doug), his brothers Ross Witmer (Rosario), Fred Witmer (Marian), and Glenn Witmer, as well as his children, Cathy Bowman (Jim), Debra Townsend (James), Phil Witmer (Mandy), Gerald Witmer (Brenda), Myriam Vandenbroucque (Edgard), his grandchildren Kim (Gary)Martin, Rachel (Khadar) Bowman-Abdi , Annalea Townsend- Furgason (Kenny), Krista Townsend, David Witmer, Chris Witmer, Adam Witmer (Sara), Sophie Witmer, and 5 great-grandchildren: Simon, Avry, Aden, Elias, and Joy Rim.
While growing up, his family attended Mannheim Mennonite Church just outside the hamlet of Mannheim, Ontario. Robert and his future wife, Lois Martin, were members of the first graduating class at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. Robert paid his way through high school first by milking cows on a local farm, doing custodial work at Rockway, and then developing a very successful business selling vacuum cleaners door to door. Robert was an entrepreneur at heart, a skill that he put to good use in every aspect of his life. While he had the opportunity to pursue a career in business, his calling led him in a totally different direction.
Sometime during their high school years, Robert and Lois felt the call to do Christian mission work. They were married in 1949, went to study at Eastern Mennonite College in Virginia, and then moved to Goshen, Indiana for seminary studies in 1953.
In the spring of 1956, Bob and Lois were asked by Mennonite Board of Missions (MBM) if they would be interested in doing mission work in Paris, France. They accepted the call, and arrived in Paris in November 1956. Their work involved church planting and ministering, as well as an outreach in the form of sheltered workshops for adults with mental handicaps, both on the church property in Châtenay Malabry, and on a farm at Hautefeuille, just east of Paris. This outreach has now developed to include a multitude of workshops around France.
In 1984, their mission work led them to north-western Quebec where they ministered for 10 years to the church in Rouyn-Noranda. They retired to a cottage at Fairview Mennonite Home in 1995, and as members of Preston Mennonite Church, they have actively contributed to the life and activities of that community.
To attend the visitation, relatives and friends must RSVP at www.erbgood.com or by calling 519-745-8445. Visitation will be held at Preston Mennonite Church, 791 Concession Road, Cambridge on Wednesday, December 8 from 6-8pm. A private family service will take place on Thursday, December 9 at 2pm. The service will be livestreamed, and the link will be available on his online obituary page at www.erbgood.com.
Condolences for the family and donations to Crow Shield Lodge (arranged through Preston Mennonite Church) can be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.
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