Henry Redekop
1928 - 2020
After a long and productive life, Henry “Red’ Redekop, beloved husband of the late Helen Redekop, passed away in Lethbridge on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at the age of 92 years.
As a result of the restrictions regarding COVID-19, and the government’s recommendations, a private burial service was held at the Vauxhall Mennonite Cemetery on Monday, April 27, 2020 officiated by Gerald Klassen. Click on the following link to view a video tribute of Henry's life prepared by his family. https://bit.ly/henryredekop
Henry is survived by his children Randy (Janice), Gary, Bruce (Monika), Tim (Pat), Shelley (Brian), and Terri (Irene). He is survived by his grandchildren Kerby (Kathrina), Mark (Natalie), Sarah (Daniel), Andrew (Richelle), Nick (Bridgette), Brendan (Nikki), Chris (Kym), Emily, and Mariel, as well as nine great-grandchildren. Henry is also survived by his brothers Ed (Liz) Redekopp of Lethbridge, Karl (Ann) Redekopp of Spirit River and sisters-in-law Katie Goerzen, Susan Goerzen and Ricki Lane as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife Helen Redekop and his sons Marvin Redekop, Lawrence Redekop and infant son Terence Redekop.
Henry was born on February 22, 1928 in Mellowdale, Alberta to Karl and Margaret (nee Peters) Redekop, two years after the family immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine. The young family moved to Coaldale in 1931 and worked in the sugar beet fields until Karl and Margaret bought their first farm close to Rossland school, northeast of Vauxhall in 1937. The family quickly began to put down roots, first meeting for church in the homes of other Mennonites and then building a church shortly after. Growing up in those days meant hard work on the farm, but Henry and his brothers found time to hunt, trap, and help neighbors to earn a bit of spending money. Henry married Helen Goerzen on April 29, 1951. The young couple spent their first year near Lethbridge, but factory work didn’t suit Henry so they moved back to Vauxhall in 1952 and started their own farm the following year. For the first few years, Henry supplemented the family’s income by working for the PFRA and at the sugar factory in Taber until the farm could fully support them. The farm grew as Henry and Helen rented and bought more land, no doubt partly in the (vain) attempt to keep their eight growing children fed and out of trouble. In 1977, Henry and Helen sold the irrigation farm in Vauxhall and went dryland farming south of Retlaw. They moved to Lethbridge, and the next year the dryland farm expanded to the Reserve west of Lethbridge. Henry and Helen continued farming until their retirement in 1994. In retirement, Henry and Helen enjoyed spending part of their winters in Palm Springs. Henry volunteered his time and carpentry skill with Habitat for Humanity and a couple Mennonite relief agencies and as he started spending more time at home, he took up woodworking and gardening. The door to the house in Lethbridge was always open and friends and family would often drop in when they were in town. In later years, Henry especially enjoyed regular weekly group coffee times with his friends. Throughout his life, Henry was dedicated to his family and his church and always maintained an interest in farming. Even his recent illness was unable to erode his sense of humor and positive spin on life. Dad, grandpa, great Grandpa and “Red” will be deeply missed.
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at the Peter Lougheed Hospital, Chinook Regional Hospital and St. Michael’s Health Centre, Palliative Care Unit, for their care for Henry over these past two months.