Obituary of Leonard Balzer

July 13, 1942 – May 12, 2021 Leonard David Balzer was born on July 13, 1942, to David and Margaret Balzer in Langham, SK, on the family farm. When he was five, he and his family moved to the Mission, BC, where he would be for the next 17 years. Len spent a semester at Bethany Bible College in Abbotsford before moving to Portage la Prairie, MB, to work a short-term assignment with MCC. After this, Len moved to Saskatoon, where he first worked at a grocery store before spending the next 15 years with the Canadian National Railway. Len met Edna Dyck at a church youth group in 1962, and in 1964 they married in Duck Lake, SK. Len’s job with Canadian National Railway brought him and Edna to live in many places like Weyburn, Saskatoon, North Battleford, and Prince Albert. He also spent time in sales and the Commissionaires before his eventual retirement to Rosthern, SK. He continued with the Commissionaires part time during his retirement. He was baptized upon his confession of faith in June of 1963, at Mayfair Mennonite Church in Saskatoon. Len was involved in the churches he attended. He served on several church boards where they were in a building program in Prince Albert and North Battleford. Leonard loved listening to Southern Gospel Music, long drives, and the valuable time he spent with his children and grandchildren, especially taking them for fishing trips. After retiring in 2008, he took an interest in his family history, and invested his time into chronicling the family history, from the present all the way back to 1750, and created a completed family tree. He also organized several one-day bus trips for seniors, including many fishing trips, a riverboat cruise, Saskatoon Christmas light trip, tour to the Regina government building and to the RCMP depot. Len is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, Edna and his children Melodie (John), Lee (Cindy), and Mukai Muza. Len leaves a rich legacy behind full of grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Melodie’s two children, Karissa and Noah; Lee’s children, Kevin (Mandi), Kirsten, Clayton, Rick, Nikita (Riley), Jared (Holly), and Riley; and Mukai’s children, Rujeko and Tinaye. He also had many great-grandchildren; Kevin’s two children, Austen and Kenzie; Kirsten’s two daughters, Sadie and Kaylin; Nikita’s sons, Axel and Wilder; Jared & Holly’s children, Becky, Ally-Anna, Saydi, and Charlie; sisters Rita Whitten, Betty (Bill) Peters, Lorina (Vic) Froese, Mary Lynne (Dave) Jackson, and Sharon (Neil) Bergland; brothers Alvin (Dorothy) Balzer and Ray (Shirley) Balzer; sister-in-law Esther (Walter) Jantzen; and brothers-in-law Ervin (Anne) Dyck and Allan (Judy) Dyck. Len is predeceased by one sister, Gloria in 1950, his father in 1980, and mother in 2002. Len fought a long battle with health issues, hospitalization, and cancer before passing away. The time he spent with his loved ones will always be cherished, and he will be greatly missed. A private memorial gathering will be held by invitation only. Arrangements are in care of Funk’s Funeral Home, (306) 232-5245, http://www.funksfuneralhome.ca.