Ever since dad was a young boy he wanted to live in Canada. it was his dream to have a farm in the land of the unknown. Growing up on a small farm in the Black Forest region in Germany, inspired dad, in his early 20s, to further his education in agriculture. Soon after he packed his trunk, stuffed $50 in his pocket and sailed to the Canadian shores with five of his classmates, arriving on March 21, 1954.
Finding his first job in Saskatchewan on a farm kept dad busy for his first six months in Canada. Moving on he ventured to Vancouver where he worked at several sawmills and on any days off he washed windows on tall buildings. Soon after mom arrived by ship, holding in her arms the carving dad made in his image, for her before he left Germany. They were married a week later in Vancouver in a small church surrounded by their close friends.
Dad’s dream continued to unfold as he took his new wife to the land he wished to live and share. It was a true pioneering lifestyle, one which dad eagerly looked forward to. Nestling on their first little farm on Tatalrose Road for the first 10 years was a taste of what dad wanted. His dream grew bigger when he spotted an area of land further down the road. They relocated with six kids in tow, to this new area where he built up his farm, naming it Bear Hill Ranch.
Involvement in the community was important to dad. He was at one time the president of The Cattleman’s Association, a leader in forestry management, involved with the Agricultural Land Reserve, then dabbled in our local Artisan Art Society, where he displayed and sold some of his wood carvings. Dad’s love of reading, gardening, cooking (and burning mom’s pots), hunting, fishing, bee keeping, wild mushroom and berry picking, and carving kept him busy before and during his retirement years.
Dad/Opa loved life and he was so blessed to have shared 60 years with mom, raising six children; Ursula (Danny), Hubert (Snezana), Wolfram (Lianne), Sylvia (Robert), Richard (Colette) and Monika. Sharing his wisdom and stories of the past, Opa leaves behind 24 grand children and 19 great grandchildren.
Close to our hearts, we will always remember dad/Opa for his gentle nature, easy smile and inner strength. We love you.
A memorial for Helmut will be at a later date for family and close friends.