Frank George Loewen

Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-1945 War Medal

Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)

WW II

Frank George Loewen was born 13 July 1913 at Kronsgart, Manitoba, in the Rural Municipality of Roland. He was the youngest child of Jacob G. and Susanna Loewen (nee Dyck) with older siblings Jake, Anne, Susie and John. In 1914 the family moved to 3rd Street in the Village of Winkler where Frank spent his boyhood years. Frank’s father was a band leader in the 1920’s and at age eleven Frank developed an interest playing his dad’s cornet. By age twelve, Frank was playing trumpet and later cornet in the town and school bands, and continued performing in the band for the next forty years. Frank attended school in Winkler through Grade 12. Following high school, he worked with his father in a well-drilling business and the family general store.

In October 1940 Frank Loewen enlisted in the Armed Forces at Winnipeg, Manitoba. He became a member of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), (LdSH (RC), an armoured regiment. In 1941 Trooper Frank Loewen and his regiment were transferred to Listowel, Ontario and then onto Camp Borden, Ontario for further training. In November the regiment sailed from Nova Scotia enroute to Aldershot, England. The LdSH (RC) would spend the better part of two years there in training with the Canadian built RAM Tank. While in England, Frank was promoted to Corporal. Unfortunately his time with the regiment there was short lived. In March 1942 Corporal Loewen was transferred to the Canadian Armoured Corps Training Centre HQ Squadron at Camp Borden, Ontario as a Gunnery Instructor.

In June of 1942, Frank’s fiancé Katherine H. Friesen (Kay) of Winkler, 19 years of age, boarded a train bound for Listowel, Ontario where she and Frank were married on the 20 June 1942. After a brief return to Manitoba, Corporal Loewen returned to the UK aboard the Queen Elizabeth in March of 1943. He was an Advanced Training/Wireless and Wireless Instructor. In June Frank receive a very special telegram from Winkler announcing the birth of his first child, a daughter, Virginia.

Following the end of WW II in 1945, Corporal Loewen was repatriated to Canada aboard the French liner Ile De France, landing in Halifax, then travelled by train to the Canadian Pacific Railway Station in Winnipeg. Kay noted: “The end of the war was very real to Winnipeggers with approximately 2500 men returning within 24 hours on special trains.”

After his discharge from the Army, Frank and Kay Loewen made their home in Winkler, Mb. Frank became established as a Winkler general merchant, in partnership with his father in the “J. G. Loewen and Son General Store”. In 1949, Frank changed professions and entered The Civil Service of Canada, accepting a Canada Post position of Postmaster at the Winkler Post Office. He served as the Zone Postmaster for the southern portion of the province from 1972 – 1974. He earned his 25 year Service Pin in 1974, shortly before his death.

Frank’s post-war interests included playing and performing with the Winkler Band, being active in the Winkler Golf and Curling Clubs as well as the Red Cross. Frank enjoyed fishing and did so all over southern Manitoba on numerous camping trips with family, including children and later, grandchildren. Frank was the family Scrabble champion and many hours were spent playing the game with his children, all striving to match his skills.

Frank and Kay’s family grew to four children, Virginia (Ginny), Leslie (Les), Lynette (Lyn) and Cynthia (Cindy). There was mutual love and enjoyment between Frank and his family and he had the opportunity to spend time with the young grandchildren that were born during his lifetime.

Corporal Frank George Loewen, a lifelong citizen of Winkler, died 26 May 1974 after a lengthy illness. He is buried in the Winkler Cemetery, Winkler, Manitoba.

Information from family and Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) history.