Historian writes Loewen family history in new book
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A new book outlines the Loewen family history going back several generations in Blumenort, Mexico, and the U.S. The book, The House of Isaac and Maria: The Loewens of Manitoba, Chihuahua, and Beyond, is a love letter to Issac Loewen and Maria (Plett) Loewen, the grandparents of authors Roy Loewen and Arden Dueck.
“I never got to know my grandparents well. Through this process we discovered hundreds of letters that were exchanged from the time they were in their 20s to the time they were in their 70s, and I really got to know my grandparents in a very new way. And it was reaching out to them to thank them for the gifts of faith and love that they have passed on through the generations,” said Loewen.
Loewen is a retired history professor from the University of Winnipeg and has written two books on the Mennonites in Manitoba. In a lot of ways, The House of Isaac and Maria is the story of many Mennonites in Manitoba who left the modern world a hundred years ago for Mexico and Paraguay to set up colonies. After the Second World War, another wave left in smaller groups for the same destinations. The Loewens of Blumenort left for Los Jagueyes colony in Chuhuahua, Mexico in 1952.
“There were concerns about people moving from the farms to the towns and what that would do to their traditional faith. They were concerned about boys joining the military, they were concerned about increased consumer lifestyles, and they wanted to keep ways simple from their understanding (of) the faith and they were emphasizing simplicity and pacifism, and thought that living in Mexico or Paraguay would be beneficial for the faith,” explained Loewen.
Half of the Loewens that moved to Mexico came back to Canada and settled mostly in Arborg and Whitemouth. The Loewens who stayed in Manitoba included Dave P. Loewen, a farmer in Blumenort, major shareholder of Steinbach Hatchery and Feed, and Steinbach Credit Union board member and long-time chair. Another noteworthy Loewen was John P. Loewen who was a pastor of the Blumenort Community Church from 1964 to about 1989.
There are about 45 cousins that are now spread throughout Canada from B.C. to New Brunswick and about half a dozen in the United States and four different Mexican states.
“So, I was intrigued by my family history. I thought maybe I could be of service by putting a book like that together,” said Loewen.
The House of Isaac and Maria compiles letters and photographs from the family giving an intimate portrait of who Isaac and Maria were. Loewen describes Maria as a quiet and serious woman who loved her children and grandchildren immensely and Isaac as a refined man with a strong personality who was neat and precise as he was an accountant for the Blumenort co-op cheese factory. Isaac was also curious and owned a bookstore where he shipped books he ordered from Pennsylvania to Paraguay and Saskatchewan.
When Isaac first decided to go to Mexico in 1948, Maria was against the move and refused until 1952 when she relented. Half of the family moved to Mexico and the other half stayed in Manitoba. When the Loewens got to Mexico they found it difficult to live there. They were in an area that was difficult to get to and the land was not as fertile as in Manitoba. In 1962, Isaac had a slight stroke and decided if he was going to die he didn’t want to do it in Mexico. He came back to Canada where he died in 1963. Maria went back to Mexico for just a couple of years and she too came back to Canada because, Loewen believes, Canada had better health facilities.
“She was very torn because she had two daughters and a son in Mexico and she had a daughter and three sons in Canada. She was very torn where she wanted to be, but I think she finally settled on coming back to Canada because she was getting older, and in some respects, life might have been easier out here,” he said.
Life in Mexico progressed with paved roads and successful businesses for the Loewens in lumber, agriculture, and the feed industry. About 150 family members recently met up in the Mexican colony to connect. Loewen said there was a great sense of affection and a bond that was created amongst family members.
“I think we have a lot to learn from them and how they take care of their poor and their elderly and I think they were inspired (by us),” said Loewen.
The takeaway from The House of Isaac and Maria is the sense of family even when they are scattered across three different countries.
“I think this is a universal story of tenderness over boundaries. It’s hopeful that even in our modern society and being spread out we have these very tender and strong ties that bring us hope and…security,” said Loewen.
The House of Isaac and Maria can be purchased at the Mennonite Heritage Village gift shop in Steinbach, Amazon, and the Mennonite Heritage Archives in Winnipeg.
