Memorable Manitobans: Gerhard Giesbrecht Kornelsen (1878-1958)

Historian, educator, salesman, printer, author.

Born at Lichtenau on 23 September 1878, son of Gerhard Enns Kornelsen and Elisabeth Giesbrecht (1855-?), he graduated from Normal School and taught for around 20 years, including alongside his father at Steinbach School (1902-1916), and was Principal of Blumenort School (1919). He quit teaching in 1921 to become a community historian for the next five decades. He was reportedly the first person in Steinbach to operate a printing press and was later a contributor to the Steinbach Post, along with other papers and periodicals. While his intention to publish a book on his compiled information was impeded by a stroke in 1951, his research did contribute extensively towards the 1955 publication of In Search of Utopia by Dr. E. K. Francis. To supplement his income, he worked as a travelling salesman of the J. R. Watkins Company in the southeastern region of Manitoba. He was a member of the Steinbach South End Church and the Mennonite Brethren Church. On 3 July 1910, he married Annie P. Dyck (c1883-1982) at Winkler and they had three children: Mary Dyck Kornelsen, William Dyck “Bill” Kornelsen (c1915-1988), and Ernest Dyck “Ernie” Kornelsen (1924-2012). He was hospitalized in October 1957 and remained there until his death on 6 April (Easter Sunday) 1958 at the Bethesda Hospital. Burial followed in the Steinbach Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 April 1958, page 12.

“G. G. Kornelsen dies on Easter Sunday,” Steinbach Carillon, 11 April 1958, page 1.

St. Boniface estate file #7501, Gerhard Giesbrecht Kornelsen, Archives of Manitoba.

Obituary [Anna Kornelsen], Winnipeg Free Press, 2 September 1982, page 36.

Obituary [Anna Kornelsen], Steinbach Carillon, 8 September 1982, page 25.

Obituary [William Dyck Kornelsen], Steinbach Carillon, 8 September 1982, page 25.

Obituary [Ernest Kornelsen], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 July 2012, page C9.

Obituary [Ernest Kornelsen], DignityMemorial.

Winnipeg estate file PR12-01-91544, Ernest Dyck Kornelsen, Archives of Manitoba.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 14 July 2018

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!