Martha Mittelstaedt Obituary
Martha Mittelstaedt (née Strelau) was born to Henry and Pauline Strelau on September 9, 1928, in the village of Nuri, Poland. She passed away peacefully and entered her eternal rest on March 14, 2023.
In 1945, Martha, her parents, her three brothers and three sisters fled from Poland to Germany to escape the advance of the Russian army at the end of World War II.
They remained in Germany for a short time, but then in 1949, they emigrated to Canada and settled on a farm near Canwood, Saskatchewan. The Strelau family eventually located in Vancouver in 1955.
It was in Canwood that Martha met the love of her life, Kurt Eugene Mittelstaedt. They married in Vancouver, BC, on August 22, 1953. Between 1954 and 1965, they were blessed with eight children.
Kurt and Martha lived in Vancouver until 1961, then went into pastoral ministry. Over the years, they served churches in Leduc, Alberta; London, Ontario; Vernon, BC; Kitchener, Ontario; and Kelowna, BC. In 1989 for a short time, they moved to Vancouver, so Martha could help take care of her aging parents. Later that year, they returned to Kitchener until their retirement in 1996. Then, they moved back to Kelowna and have lived there until now.
Martha was a loving mother, a capable homemaker, a gracious hostess, a caring friend to many, and a strong supportive partner in life and ministry to Kurt. And, of course, an amazing grandmother and great-grandmother. For a time, she also demonstrated her excellent managerial skills in running the Vernon Bethany Home for seniors.
She is predeceased by her elder siblings, Emil and Hanna.
She leaves to mourn her passing, her loving husband, Kurt; eight children and their spouses–Rainer (Elizabeth), Leonard (Marilyn), Anita (Terry), Walter (Patty), Helga (Harry), Herb (Deena), Paul (Claudia), and Marty (Margit); twenty-six grandchildren and their partners; forty-seven great-grandchildren; four siblings–Otto, Richard, Hilda, and Doris; other extended family members and many friends.
Martha will be remembered for her devotion to Christ, her practical faith in God, and her attention to the needs of others.
donations may be made to the Ministry Essentials Training Program at PAOC Mission Global.
A Visitation will be held on THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023, at 5:00 PM, at Springfield Funeral Home (2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC).
A Funeral Service will be held on FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023, at 1:00 PM, at Springfield Funeral Home (2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC), a reception will follow. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below), a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter. Martha will be laid to rest at a private family graveside service, at the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.