"He was a man worthy of honour and respect."

That is how Burt Loewen of Steinbach is being remembered by close friend Reg Reimer. The 73 year old passed away Tuesday.

"Burt was a man of faith and integrity, he loved life and loved to laugh," shares Reimer. "He was enthusiastic, curious, at the same time he was sentimental and didn't hold grudges, which was a wonderful part of his personality."

The relationship between Reimer and Loewen dates back several decades. Reimer recalls the two men were in business at the same time; one selling furniture, the other dealing with farm equipment. Both men attended Steinbach EMC and even studied for their pilot's license together in the early 1970's. The two would become partners in the world of real estate and though it may have started as a casual friendship, Reimer says they became close friends over the last decade.

Reimer calls Loewen a true entrepreneur who loved marketing, a man of his word and someone always wanting to move a deal forward.

"More and more in today's business world, things revolve around terms that are set out in a written contract," says Reimer. "In Burt's world that was partially true, but more than that, his word was his bond. And more often than not, that was what determined a deal rather than what may have been on the signed paper."

Reimer says Loewen had a strong faith and belief in God as supreme authority and creator of all things; referring to his friend as tireless in his work on behalf of his local Church. Loewen devoted time in innumerable charitable causes and served on countless boards, including such things as Rest Haven Foundation, Eden Foundation, Providence College, Steinbach Bible College, Steinbach Christian High School and The Mennonite Foundation of Canada.

"I was always struck by his willingness to serve, his enthusiasm whatever it was that he was doing," says Reimer. "He seemed to have a giftedness in being able to provide leadership and contribute to these things in a very meaningful way."

Reimer also recalls Loewen as a family man; one who loved his wife, children and grandchildren with all his heart and whose eyes would light up when he talked about them.

One of the organizations that relied on Loewen's volunteer spirit is Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach. Al Hamm says the two of them spent many hours together giving of their time in the windmill. Hamm says Loewen had an interest in history and would use his knowledge to teach the children that would come through as part of the school tours each spring.

"He did a wonderful job with the school kids," says Hamm. "He would talk to the kids and interpret the windmill to them and discuss what the windmill did and how it fit into our history. He just did a wonderful job doing that; he almost treated the kids like they were his own grandchildren."

Having worked in the furniture industry earlier in his life, Loewen developed a friendship with Dennis Loeppky, owner of Furniture Plus in Steinbach. Loeppky says Loewen was always a fair competitor, a man who loved Steinbach and someone who loved to serve his community.

A viewing for Burt Loewen will be held Sunday, August 30 from 6:30-7:00pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will take place Monday, August 31 at 2pm at Steinbach EMC.