Historical note

Isaac Loewen was born in Neuenberg, South Russia, on May 31, 1865, to Isaac and Susanna (Krahn) Loewen. The family immigrated to Canada in 1877, settling in Osterwick, Manitoba. Isaac began working for Peter Abrams at the Abrams and Esau store in Gretna. After Peter Abrams died, Isaac married his widow, Susanna (Rempel) Peters, on June 29, 1890. Susanna brought with her seven children. She and Isaac had six more children, but only one survived childhood, a daughter named Susanna. In 1890, Isaac also became Wilhelm Esau's partner in the Gretna store. This partnership only lasted for three years, after which Isaac opened his own store. In 1902, he moved to Osler, Saskatchewan and opened a general store there, transferring his membership to the Rosenort Mennonite Church. While living in Osler, Isaac also marketed grain and provided loans to farmers. In both Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Isaac was influential as a community leader, serving in various capacities including as a member of the Bethel College Corporation (1893), on the Gretna Town Council (1899), as an auditor for the Mennonite Aid Plan (1901), on a committee to establish a ferry across the South Saskatchewan River near Osler, and on various boards for the German English Academy in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Isaac died from a stroke on December 7, 1918, during the influenza epidemic.