As we approach the end of our 60th anniversary year, we’re taking a moment to recognize the individuals who tirelessly volunteered their time to turn the vision of a credit union among Mennonites in Waterloo County into a reality: our Founders. Their radical vision was to see mutual aid put into faithful practice – individuals or groups bearing one another’s burdens, helping each other out in times of need and in times of plenty.
Of the twenty-two signatures on our charter, nine are considered to have had a significant contribution in the development of Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union, now Kindred Credit Union. By providing glimpses into our past and by profiling the original twenty-two signers of the Charter, we’re ending 2024 with a focus on those who nurtured our credit union and established the foundation on which our purpose and values are built.
Some of the information on the founding members is from our 1989 Annual Report, collected from public records, from conversations with their family members, or with the guidance of Sam Steiner, Librarian and Archivist, and Fred Martin, Director of Advancement, Conrad Grebel College. Information about our founding members was challenging to find or verify, and there was limited publicly available information. As a result, not everyone could be chronicled equally.
A very special thanks to Bernie Burnett, Nay Snyder, Rebecca Smith, and Stephanie Szusz for your help and sharing your family history with us.
Howard Snyder (May 11, 1911 – November 20, 1982) | President
Howard Snyder was a member of First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, where he served for many years as Sunday school teacher, chairman of the stewardship board and church council. From 1942 to 1945, he served in England with Corps of Canadian Fire Fighters.
He held the position of President of Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union, beginning in 1964 until 1968, making him a key figure in the creation and early days of the credit union. Even after his tenure as president, Howard continued as a director on the board until 1976; he was well suited for the role, as he was the treasurer and general manager of the Ontario Telephone Employees Credit Union. He was also a Bell Canada employee.
Furthermore, Howard was very conversant with credit union philosophy with strong feelings that the credit union model was a natural fit for a Mennonite financial institution, due to their background in mutual aid and helping each other. He very much embodied that philosophy, as Howard, together with his wife Charlea, visited members in distress. Charlea collected food and clothes to take along on these visits, while Howard provided financial counselling.
Winfield Fretz (September 29, 1910 – January 24, 2005) | College President
Likely the most well-known of the founders, J. Winfield Fretz was an American sociologist who, in the 1940s, accepted a two-year assignment with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in which he visited Russian Mennonite immigrant communities in Canada from British Columbia to Ontario. MCC's culture of bringing various Mennonite groups together was influential in the founding of Conrad Grebel College affiliated with the University of Waterloo in 1963.
Winfield Fretz’s Mennonite background led to him joining Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church within a year of arriving in Canada, and Winfield served actively as a lay leader on the Board of Deacons and the Missions Committee. He helped found our credit union in 1964; he also founded and presided over the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario in 1965 and founding president of the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada in 1968. In addition, he was a key promoter of Mennonite Relief Sales in Ontario.
He moved back to Kansas in the 1980s, where he lived out the remainder of his life with his family.
Fred Pfisterer (1932 – present) | Chartered Accountant
The credit union wouldn’t exist without Fred Pfisterer, who provided the accounting skills necessary to get Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union started. He was interested in the concept of a financial institution based on Mennonite principles, as promoted by Howard Snyder. He continued to promote the credit union idea, serving as treasurer of the board of directors from 1964 to into the 1970s.
Fred was a member of Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church and enjoys sharing his passion by educating others about Mennonite philosophy, values, and purpose.
Peter Rempel (November 28, 1909 – January 21, 2000) | Production Manager
As someone familiar with the credit union concept, due to his experience as a production manager at Marsland Engineering in Waterloo, Peter Rempel was an excellent choice to take on the role as vice-president of the board of directors for Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union from 1964 until 1966. More importantly, Peter’s experience led him to serve on the publicity committee and he spearheaded the printing of the first brochure for WCMCU! Peter was the Vice-President of CAN-ENG Manufacturing until his retirement in 1975.
By 1989, Peter was retired and living at Eastwood Mennonite Community (now part of the Beyond Housing properties). He was a member of Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church.
James P. Burnett (July 22, 1915 - September 8, 2004) | Shipping Department Foreman
Contacted by Howard Snyder to help with Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union, the story goes that James Burnett “remembered a distinct feeling against the word ‘union’ when working with Mennonites” – and yet, James worked at Werlich Industries and served as treasurer for six years at Werlich Industries Credit Union!
James served on the Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union board of directors from 1964 to 1970, as acting secretary from January 1965 to May 1965, and was then elected to a two-year term in the position. He was a member of Preston Mennonite Church, and remained an active member of the credit union until his death.
Maurice Plummer (April 10, 1909 – December 2, 1997) | Maintenance and Construction Worker
Eager to help in whatever capacity after Howard Snyder and J.W. Fretz outlined some possibilities for a credit union and the philosophy behind it, Maurice Plummer joined as a founder by serving on the board of directors from 1964-1968, and then on the supervisory committee until 1971.
He worked in construction with Dunker Construction and then, for twelve years before his retirement, operated a woodshop at MTD Products. Following his retirement to Fairview Mennonite Homes, he remained a member of Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church and a strong credit union supporter.
Fred Cressman (January 20, 1917 – March 16, 2002) | Plant Manager
Instrumental along with Howard Snyder, Fred Cressman visited many churches to encourage their involvement with the credit union to support loan activity; our focus on partnering with congregations and charities continues to this day! Fred served on the board of directors from 1964-1970, mainly working with the publicity committee.
He was a plant manager at Canada Barrels and Kegs, and, upon retirement, continued to work as a small business owner, while actively promoting the credit union’s philosophy. He was a member of Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church.
Orie Bender (May 23, 1922 – December 15, 1996) | Business Owner
Influenced by Howard Snyder and appreciative of the brotherhood ideology, Orie Bender wanted to help with the founding of a credit union. However, to Orie, the formation of a credit union was, at first, a purely “helping” concept and not a banking service. To him, “banking” never came first – serving others did.
Orie served on the board of directors from 1964-1966 and was the owner and operator of Bender Sales & Service, as well as a member of First Mennonite Church. He served as the church representative at First Mennonite and maintained support for the credit union.
Walter Goerz (March 2, 1917 – September 25, 1990) | Plant Superintendent
A plant supervisor at Marsland Engineering and a member of Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church, Walter Goerz became involved with the credit union after listening to discussions on the concept of a cooperative financial institution. Incredibly interested, he served as secretary on the board of directors from 1964-1966.
He continued to actively support the credit union from its beginnings.
Henry H. Epp (March 31, 1928 – April 11, 2010)
As a conscientious objector to war in 1944, Henry Epp worked as a ward attendant at the Brandon Mental Hospital for an 18-month term, before enrolling at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas in 1946. In 1948 he went to the Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church (WKUMC) in Ontario-–first as assistant minister to Jacob H. Janzen, and then as leading minister. He travelled extensively afterward as a minister, and returned to WKUMC in 1958 to minister there. Henry was also a founding member of Conrad Grebel University College and served on its first board. In the early 1950s he served as vice chairman for the Conference of Historic Peace Churches. He served as the first chairman of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario in 1965.
In his retirement, he began to write his memoirs, A Place on Planet Earth, which he never completed due to Alzheimer’s disease. With the support of his wife Mary, Henry was actively involved in ministry, committee work, writing, and furthering the vision of the Mennonite church.
Woldemar Abram Teichroeb (November 19, 1928 - March 26, 2020)
Woldemar “Wally” Teichroeb had a mind for business. He worked as an auditor for B.F. Goodrich, the head of business studies at Kitchener–Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School (KCI) where he pioneered paid co-operative business education in Waterloo County, and co-ordinator of business studies for the Waterloo County Board of Education. Wally served as president of the Co-operative Business Association and the Ontario Business Education Association. He was awarded the Queen's 25th Anniversary Jubilee Medal for Educational Leadership.
Wally became involved with Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union through his friendship with J.W. Fretz and Maurice Plummer, who was his father-in-law. As a charter member, his bank card had such a low member number on it – 05 – that it drew disbelief from credit union staff! Wally was active as an elder and a member of various committees in his church, Waterloo Mennonite Brethren. He played the violin and enjoyed music, theatre, and nature. Continuing the family legacy with our credit union, his niece, Rebecca Smith, is our Vice-President, Engagement and Values!
Etril Martin Snyder (December 9, 1912 – April 2, 1983)
According to Etril’s grandniece, who works at Kindred - Stephanie Szusz (nee Snyder), our Vice-President, Agricultural and Commercial Banking - a conversation with Etril’s son Don made note that Etril wasn’t much of a talker. Don remembered he was on the finance committee in the early days of the credit union, and he clearly had a head for business – Etril co-owned Maple Lane Dairy with his brother. Our resources on the original Charter even list Etril as the president!
Agriculture runs strong in the Snyder family, and the family is still involved in the dairy industry, milking cows in the Waterloo Region today. What an amazing connection between generations, past and present, from Etril to Stephanie!
Howard Stanley Schiedel (October 2, 1927 – February 7, 2013)
“Howie” Schiedel worked for Canada Post as a letter carrier supervisor, and then Reitzel Bros. Rentals. According to online records, although he retired early due to blindness, he continued to have many adventures including travelling and various sport activities. In our records, he was a member of the Waterloo branch, demonstrating his continued support for the credit union even after he was no longer actively participating.
Hardy John Klassen (October 31, 1931 – October 21, 2003)
Unfortunately, records for Hardy Klassen are inconsistent between what Kindred has on file and what is otherwise available. However, we know that Hardy and his wife Ella were charter members of Glencairn Mennonite Brethren Church. He owned and operated Hardy Klassen Motors Ltd., on Victoria Street in Kitchener, for 48 years.
According to his obituary, he was a dedicated volunteer with Camp Crossroads where he served on the Board, was a founding member and Past President of Birchcrest Cottage Association and a former member of the local automotive apprenticeship board.
Roy Gingerich Snyder (October 23, 1915 – February 11, 2015)
Roy Snyder has a highly decorated history, including being on the Waterloo Hall of Fame for his achievements in the agricultural field. Snyder was a pioneer of artificial insemination as the first full-time employee of the Waterloo Cattle Breeding Association. He served as secretary-manager of the Ontario Association of Animal Breeders from 1963 to 1977, at the same time he was involved in the creation of our credit union.
He remained active in community affairs, according to numerous online sources. This includes: president of the Waterloo Co-operative Medical Services and the Co-operative Health Services of Ontario, a member of the board of governors and the first treasurer at Conrad Grebel College, the Mennonite Central Committee Heifer Sale, Mennonite Economic Development Associates of Canada (MEDA), and was a partner in the Kitchener Stock Yards (later St. Jacobs Market).
He actively and enthusiastically engaged in all aspects of Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo, and up to the week before he died, Snyder remained engaged with MEDA.
Sylvanus Anthony Shantz (February 3, 1901 – September 12, 1973)
According to online records, he was a member of First Mennonite Church; we have him written down in our Charter as a construction company owner.
Wilfred “Wilf” David Erb (September 16, 1925 – March 11, 2010)
A hospital department head, our records have Wilfred Erb living in Kitchener at the time of his participation in our credit union’s founding. Online sources are inconsistent with information or incomplete, including life dates and any personal details.
Jacob Peter Dick (n.d.)
Our Charter records indicate Jacob Dick was an apartment owner living in Waterloo at the time of signing, and all records we have of him indicate he passed away before 2010.
Robert Johnson (n.d.)
Information is very sparse on Robert Johnson in our records; we have him listed as a Minister in our Charter document, living in Kitchener in 1964. Online records indicate that he was likely the Minister at First Mennonite Church from 1963 to 1976. It is highly likely he passed away prior to 2010.
Abram Henry Pankratz (July 22, 1935 - present)
Our records for our Charter indicate that Abram Pankratz was a public-school teacher, and as of 2013, was a current member of our Kitchener branch.
Hedy Marie Sawadsky (1930 - present)
The only woman out of 22 founding members, Hedy Sawadsky has lived a very full and dedicated life, according to online sources. She attended and graduated from Canadian Mennonite Bible College (now Canadian Mennonite University), then taught in the Rosthern (Saskatchewan) Bible School for several years. Hedy worked in several church-related settings, including as an MCC representative abroad.
She participated in MCC assignments, worked cooperatively with pastors as a Christian education director in three Mennonite churches, and was a leader with Women in Church Vocations and on the General Board of the General Conference Mennonite Church.
Each of these individuals played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of our credit union. In honour of their hard work, dedication, and conviction in the cooperative business model, we say Thank You! We’re pleased to provide this glimpse into our past as we highlight the importance of these trailblazing founders. They are the reason Kindred Credit Union is what it is, today.