Memorial Service for Peter Balzer

 

Peter Gerhard Balzer  

October 26, 1931 – December 30, 2008

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed into the presence of His Lord and Saviour whom he loved and served on Tuesday, December 30.

He is survived by his loving wife Elsy and his children: Eleonore Isaak (Ewald), Helene Burns (John), Jim (Barbara) and Victor (Helen), his greatly treasured grandchildren, Esther and Angelo Eidse, Deanna and Jason Perrin, Angela and Rod Doell, Danica and Christopher Goward, Ashley and Michael Rogers, James, John, David, Sarah, Nathan, Justin, Melissa and Sterling, and his great-grandchildren Madison, Miller, Medo, Grace, Ella, Shalom, Jack, Bree and Imogene.

Peter was born in Filadelphia, Paraguay, South America to Gerhard and Helene Balzer. He married Elsy (Toews) on May 30, 1953, and in 1954 they left Paraguay, and moved to Vancouver, Canada where he spent the rest of his life.

Peter’s love for Jesus, his life and legacy will live on brightly through those he touched with his huge capacity to love and generously serve. 

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Victory Christian Centre, 6788 152 Street in Surrey, BC at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 3, 2009

The service will be streamed live online for those who are unable to make it to the memorial service. Please visit http://www.familyvictory.com/tv/24hr-tv.html

Helen’s dad graduated… Heaven just got richer

Heaven just got a little sweeter!  One of my all time heroes… Helen’s dad, Peter, graduated today at 1:40 PM.  He fought a great fight and won… I could almost hear God’s voice… “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”  He was an amazing man of faith.  In his last days he loved hearing us singing and worshipping the Lord around his bedside.  Heaven filled the room as he would lay hands on and pray over each of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren… what a rich heritage!!!

I’m going to miss him a lot.  I’m so thankful for heaven.  This has been a difficult year with my Mom, brother, and now, father-in-law going to heaven, but it has been a rich, rich year also.  It is true that we don’t fully appreciate what we’ve got till its gone.  My resolve is to love more, appreciate more and tell more about our loving God and heaven.  Please join me.

John

my mom in heaven… I’ll miss you! xxoo

She is my hero!  She lived a big life and fought a big battle.  Mary Burns will be missed by many but her testimony lives on in many.  My challenge is to be as positive as her… I never heard her say, “Why me?”  She always would find something to be thankful for.  Her fight – right to the very end – will always motivate me.

Life is short, no matter how many years it is, so live big and never give up.

I love you mom,

john xxoo

This has never been more true as my mother and Helen’s father are fighting for every second of life.

My Mom, my hero

Realizing that we might only have a little time left with my Mom got the cameras clicking as most of the kids and grandkids made their way over to her house. She really is a hero! She smiled and kidded with everyone in amongst sessions of incoherent reminiscing of years gone by.  She was radiant in every way.  I don’t know how long she will be with us but these days will never be forgotten.

I love you Mom,

johnny

Jakarta from our hotel window

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a long flight but worth it.  We are excited to be back with our Jakarta friends at JPCC.  We’ve spent a few hours catching up already and it is very encouraging to hear of all the favour God has given Pastor Jeffrey and this amazing church.  We are looking forward to our meetings together and pray that God will use Helen and I during this short stay.

Sunday nights will never be the same again!

Our first Sunday night at UBC Robson Square was AMAZING!  The location, the venue, the atmosphere, even the dj in the foyer… it really was more than a buzz.  By the time the countdown started just before 6:00, the place was packed and everyone was pumped with anticipation.  I heard the pizza hangout after was packed too (I couldn’t make it this time due to family night birthday party – we’ve been traveling a bit lately and falling behind with family celebrations) but I plan to be joining the after service Sunday night party on a regular basis.