Elsie (nee Weinbender) Propp was born on the farm west of Canora, SK on July 28, 1928, the seventh child of George and Maria (nee Braun) Weinbender. She was baptized into the Christian Faith shortly thereafter. Most of her young years were spent on a farm just southeast of Burgis where her family had moved. She attended West Wexford School, completing Grade 8. Growing up in the depression years meant there was always lots of hard work to be done. Elsie helped in the garden, in the house and herding the milk cows to and from the pasture that was located near the Whitesand River. Elsie had a very close knit family (something that remained for all of their lives) and they enjoyed simple pleasures in those years. Evenings were often spent singing together with Elsie or her sister, Irene, accompanying them on the pump organ. They were all very musical, playing an instrument by ear or singing together in perfect harmony. Their Christian faith was very important to the family. Elsie recalled that sometimes they would go by horse and buggy or sleigh to Runnymede to attend the Lutheran church in that community as there was no Lutheran Church where they lived. Between those times, they worshipped in turns at the homes of other Lutheran families and celebrated Holy Communion when a minister would come through the area. In their teenage years, Elsie and Irene boarded at Pastor Propp's house in Yorkton, took confirmation classes and were confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church. In her late teen years, Elsie joined the work force becoming a nurses' aide at the Yorkton Hospital. She enjoyed her work very much, but also liked living in town because on an off day in summer she could go for picnics to York Lake or attend the fair. In 1947, Elsie met her husband, Victor Propp when he and his mother, Anna Sippel and brother, Dave stopped at the Weinbender farm for a visit on their way home after a trip to Nipawin. They were married on April 10, 1948. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Judith and Timothy. Elsie was an excellent homemaker who cooked great meals, kept a very clean house, grew a large garden and preserved the produce for the winter months. She even milked cows, when they were allowed to be kept in town, again with a long trek to take the cows to and from pasture in the summer. Elsie also served as the unofficial secretary for Victor's trucking business (hauling grain or cattle for area farmers) taking calls and messages from his customers. Later she became the Rhein correspondent for the Yorkton Enterprise. Christ Lutheran Church was a big part of Elsie and Victor's lives. Regular church attendance was very important to them both. Elsie taught Sunday School for many years - the years when each class would sit at the front of the church with their teachers during the worship service. As well she became a member of the Ladies Aid and sung in the choir. Sunday was always a day of rest, spent visiting family or going to the farm at Burgis. Every year Elsie and Victor would take a little holiday. When the children were young, each year, a week was spent at Madge in a rented cabin. There was lots to do, swimming, sun bathing on the beach, building sand castles, fishing and going for boat rides. The day usually ended with a wiener and marshmallow roast. When the children were gone from home, September would find them travelling to Alberta or BC. There was no need to go further abroad, as they felt Canada had many wonderful sights for them to explore. As Elsie got older several medical conditions robbed her of her health. She was determined to live independently at Rhein as long as possible. She looked after Victor at home for as long as she was able. When he moved to the Care Home, she eventually moved into the Gladstone Seniors Residence in Yorkton and in 2013 became a resident of the Langenburg Care Home. Elsie passed away peacefully on December 29, 2015 at the Care Home. Elsie was predeceased by her parents, George and Maria Weinbender; husband, Victor Propp; sister, Marie (in infancy), Mary (Fred) Lee, Martha (Jack) Livingston, Elizabeth (Oscar) Fandrey, Hilda (in infancy), Irene (Harold) Ehrlich and her only brother, Alex (Pauline) Weinbender as well as grandson, Geoffrey Hertlein and nephews, Ian Livingston and Doug Fandrey. She leaves to remember her life and mourn her passing, her daughter, Judy (Wayne) Hertlein and son, Tim (Marcia) Propp; her grandchildren, Jody Hertlein, Leanne (Rod) Semeschuk, Lindsey (Jenn) Hertlein, Cindy (Mike) Bloomquist, Layne Hertlein and Jeffrey (Lindsey) Propp; Great-Grandchildren, Spencer Lust, Alissa Tanguay, Brianna Semeschuk, Johnna, Jenisey, Abby and Erika Hertlein, Aliyah, Suriyah and Thorin Bloomquist, Luca and Seth Propp as well as many nieces and nephews from the Weinbender and Propp families, friends from Rhein, Yorkton and wherever her travels took her. Funeral Services were held on Saturday, January 2, 2016 from Christ Lutheran Church in Rhein, SK with Reverend Karen Stepko officiating. The readers were Laura and Sarah Weinbender. The organist was Elsie's granddaughter, Jody Hertlein, who led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "In the Garden", "Fight the Good Fight", "My Faith Looks Up to Me", "Jesus Loves Me" and "Beautiful Saviour". The soloist was Elsie's Great-Granddaughter, Jenisey Hertlein who led the singing of "Jesus Loves Me". The Interment Service followed in the Christ Lutheran Church Parish Cemetery with Lindsey Hertlein, Layne Hertlein, Jeffrey Propp, Spencer Lust, Greg Propp and Carey Weinbender serving as the casket bearers. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
