John Teichrib was born August 24th, 1937, the second child of David and Katherine  Teichrib. Growing up with one older sister, 5 younger brothers and one younger sister, he attended Bear Creek School for grades 1-8.  He  spoke fondly of the school days at Bear Creek enjoying  Christmas concerts, baseball tournaments, and  horse turd fights in the stable.

It was at Bear Creek School that “Johnny” heard about an opportunity to go to a Bible Camp if he learned 500 Bible verses.  In a little over a year he had learned and recited to his school teacher, 500 verses. And so, at the age of 12, he was off by train to Gimli Bible Camp.  It was at this time that John recognized his need for God’s forgiveness and came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. 

Dad continued his education at Gladstone High School and finished his grade 12 at Steinbach Bible College. There he also continued his post secondary education, graduating with a three year diploma in Biblical studies.

Dad met our mother, Agnes Buhler, at a wedding in the local community and soon he began to pursue a relationship with her. They courted for about 5 years until they married in June of 1961. They  enjoyed just a little over 60 years together. Dad and Mom had a deep and enduring love for one another.   

Mom and Dad were quite  involved in the local churches of the communities in which they lived. They served in children’s ministries, Dad taught adult Sunday school, sang in the Gladstone Gospel Quartet and led  congregational singing  for Sunday morning worship services for many years. Dad and Mom also served as Gideons for about 35 years. They especially enjoyed giving out Bibles to grade 5 students in the different schools of the surrounding area.

Another passion that our Dad had was aviation. Dad began taking flying lessons  in 1967.  In 1968 he began working as an aircraft mechanic at Brandon Flying Cub. He continued making a living by fixing and flying  airplanes the rest of his career. In 1974 he started his own company, Gladstone Air Services which offered aerial spraying and aircraft maintenance.  Dad  continued working  on aircraft all through his retirement  right up until the day before he passed.

Two other  passions Dad had  were  hunting and fishing.  He hunted from the age of 12 till this past deer season. (74 seasons)  He was still planning for  this coming season of deer hunting and he enjoyed his last fishing trip with friends Dave and Derek a few weeks ago.  

Yet another activity he spent a lot of time at  was  hobby farming. He spent many hours on the tractor, making and hauling hay and fixing the old equipment he used in doing so.

Dad also enjoyed interacting with people.   Church, the airport coffee shop, and local restaurants  were his most common places to interact with friends, family  and neighbors.

He delighted in hearing from and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He prayed for them all regularly.  The last two years of his life he carried out the role of great- grandpa  to a couple of  girls who suddenly became his great -granddaughters.

Dad was predeceased by his loving wife of 60 years, Agnes;  his parents David and Katherine Teichrib;  his parents- in-law, Abe and Agnes Buhler; his brothers, Harvey, Ray, Wilbert, Gordon, and Clifford; by in-laws, Janet Teichrib and Fred Klassen; by nephew Bevan Teichrib and niece Andrea Klassen; by his grandson Matthew Teichrib, and great grandson Callix Weiske.

Left to mourn his passing are his children, Debbie (Bob) Malinowski, Darrel (Pat) Teichrib, Cheryl (Michael) Nimz, Caroline (Norman) Napoleon, and Jaqueline Teichrib.   His grandchildren: Lyndy, Elissa, Odin (Cayla), Teegan, Amy (Mark), Cody (Lauren), Emily, Quinn, Jael, Nahum, Azariah, Josiah and Jeremiah; his great grandchildren Seth, London, Hanz, Winter,  Melody and Paisely; his sisters Ruby Klassen and Doreen (Brian) Klippenstein  and his  brother Bill Teichrib;  14 in-laws, and 32 nieces and nephews and their families.

We trust that our Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa heard  these words when he stepped through heaven’s threshold the morning of Oct. 6. “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.”

Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 at 2 PM at the Gladstone Christian Fellowship with interment at  Gladstone Cemetery.

To honour the memory of John memorial donations may be made to Gideons International or One Hope Canada.

Clarke’s Funeral Home of Gladstone in care of arrangements.