John Bergman

John Bergman, age 87 years, of Altona, MB passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026 at the Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg.

He is survived by his children Darlene (Steve) Dueck, Louise (Lin) Loewen, Rob (Terri) Bergman, Marci (Barron) Klassen, and Steve (Vally) Bergman, as well as by 16 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, 3 sisters, and 6 brothers. He was predeceased by his wife Helena (nee Penner), his parents, 4 sisters, and 4 brothers.

Funeral service will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Altona EMM Church with burial at the Altona Cemetery. Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home Altona on Sunday, May 10 from 1:00 - 9:00 p.m. and at the church prior to the service.

Isaiah 41:9–10: “I said, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

John was born on October 3, 1938, the first of his parents’ 18 children to be born in a hospital. Home was Bergfeld, a few miles northwest of Altona. In 1949, the family moved to a farm east of Horndean.

John often spoke of many happy memories growing up on the farm—playing baseball as a family and skating on the hockey rink they made in the yard.

At 15, John gave his life to Christ and immediately felt called to ministry.

John attended high school in Rose Farm, where he met Helena Penner, who would become his wife. They married in 1960. He completed Grade 12 at Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna and went on to study at Steinbach Bible Institute in preparation for ministry.

John’s first job was working on a farm, and later he worked in road construction to help pay his way through school.

John’s love for God and his desire to pastor led him and Helena to serve in many churches across three countries: from Austin, Manitoba, to Hepburn, Saskatchewan, then back to Altona. From there, they spent a couple of years serving with Mennonites in Mexico, followed by ministry in Leamington, Ontario, then Niverville, and again Altona. In their retirement years, John and Helena served as interim pastors in Texas and Kansas. John continued to preach, lead funeral services, and provide devotionals in care homes until his death.

John loved both participating in and watching baseball, football, and hockey. He was skilled in woodworking, building houses, furniture, and birdhouses. He and Helena also loved camping, as well as feeding and watching birds.

Music played a significant role in John’s life and ministry. He loved to sing. In college, he sang in a men’s quartet. As a youth leader, he and a group of young people known as the New Way Singers ministered in churches and coffee houses. John also spent many years singing in the Fruit of the Spirit quartet. This ministry took the group—and John as a preacher—to places in the US, Texas and Canada.

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren meant the world to John, and he took every opportunity to spend time with them. He was patient in his relationships—a gentle, kind man with a great sense of humor.

On Monday, April 13, John became ill with what was later diagnosed as a perforated ulcer. He became critically ill, and three weeks later, with most of his children and their spouses at his side, he passed away peacefully.

Thank you to the medical teams of Altona hospital and Boundary Trails. Thank you to the swift services of STARS in getting John to Health Sciences Centre. Words cannot express the family’s gratitude for the compassionate care and skillful interventions provided by the staff of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Health Sciences Centre during John’s illness.