copy_of_1181

Obituary

Gwendolynne Marie Reimer was an only-child born August 22nd, 1927, to Rheba and Christian Ummel on the plains of Kansas, and went to be with her Lord and Savior April 12, 2023, in Bakersfield, California.

After a brief childhood on the farm, the family moved to Los Angeles during the dust bowl, and then to Shafter, California. In 1947 she married Willis Leslie Reimer at the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Fresno State in 1948.

She lived out her faith in service to others at every stage of her life. As a young woman she served with her parents at the Shafter Farm Labor Camp through Missionary Gospel Fellowship. After raising her own children she founded Kiddie Kollege at Shafter MB and directed the Cubbies in their AWANA program. She was very involved in Shafter MB Women’s Ministry, Women in Touch Ministries, as well as ministering to the residents at Kern Crest Manor which later became Carrington. She was very generous and loved supporting multiple ministries. In particular, she was a faithful supporter of the North African ministry of Multiply, formerly Mennonite Brethren Missions.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her 5 children and their spouses; Douglas and Leni Reimer, Carolyn and Richard Penner, Virgil and Karen Reimer, Stephen and Darleen Reimer, and Elaine Rider, 12 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, April 20th, 2023 at 11am at the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church at 400 Kern Street in Shafter, California.The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Independent Living, and at Hoffman Hospice for their tender loving care. While she loved getting flowers, she loved people more. So in liu of flowers, please make a donation to Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church Women’s Ministry Fund.