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 | | Ed Schellenberg |
ED SCHELLENBERG, a devout Christian, went to a Surrey
apartment to service a gas fireplace October 19 and became an innocent
victim of an apparent gang hit.
Also killed were four men who lived in the apartment,
who had ties to the drug trade; and Chris Mohan, a 22 year old neighbour
whom police also described as an innocent victim.
Schellenberg’s funeral was held October 27
at Immanuel Fellowship Baptist Church in Abbotsford. Some 800 mourners were
present.
Schellenberg was an active member of Immanuel, where he
played a major role in a building expansion several years ago and had been
a leader in kids’ clubs, among other things.
As a young man, he had served for three years with
Mennonite Central Committee, a Christian relief and development
organization, in the United States and Poland. He had also done volunteer
work at Camp Squeah, a Mennonite camp.
But it is Schellenberg’s personal qualities that
are remembered.
His daughter Rachel remembers him as a man with a heart
full of love for his family and the world around him. “You could be
two or 92 and he’d be interested in you and you knew he was sincere
about it . . .
“In his hundreds of service calls, he made every
effort to not only give full value to his customers but to also make them
smile or feel just that little bit better after he had gone.”
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Immanuel senior pastor Jim Penner, who served as a
spokesman for the family at a police news conference October 23, said,
“Ed lived his life to honour God by being a man of character,
integrity and honesty. He touched many people in his job, his church, his
faith and his hobbies.”
Penner said Schellenberg’s final actions
epitomized his selfless life. His decision to finish the job in the Surrey
apartment alone and let his nephew and co-worker go home early likely
spared another innocent life.
Schellenberg’s personal impact may be gauged by
the response in Hay River, N.W.T., a town he left 16 years ago but where
his death was front-page news. The local MLA called him “a
happy-go-lucky guy and a friendly guy, a family man.”
Local businessman Duncan McNeill recalled, “Ed
never lost his temper. He always had a mild reaction to things, but he was
also a man who knew where he was going. He didn't have much confusion in
his life. He was an excellent, excellent friend.” At least six people
from Hay River were planning to attend the funeral.
Schellenberg is survived by his wife Lois, a cook at
Columbia Bible College; daughter Rachel, 20; son Kevin, 18; four sisters
and one brother.
The Vancouver Sun has posted a tribute and online
guestbook for Ed at:
www.legacy.com/can-vancouver/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=96680440
November 2007
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