Obituary of Waldemar Repsch

B I O G R A P H Y REPSCH: Waldemar "Walter" Repsch passed away in the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta on Sunday, April 17, 2005 at the age of 88 years. The funeral service for Walter was conducted from the First Lutheran Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at 10:30 A.M. with Pastor Nolan Astley officiating. Hymns sung were "How Great Thou Art," "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," and "Lord Take My Hand," accompanied on the organ by Brenda Findlay. Active pallbearers were: Duane Dallyn, Ted William, Richard Starke, Roland Starke, Alastair Starke and Morris Hniday. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Waldemar Repsch was born in Lady, Poland on April 13, 1917. He was the youngest of 5 children. When he was young he spent most of his time playing with his brother, Albert. In recent days, he thought a lot of Albert. He went to war as most young men did. During a leave, he married Adele Hubscher on July 30, 1944. That day they were married by the Justice of the Peace and the next day they were married in a church. So us girls could always count on the fact that if we missed the first day of anniversary, we could always make the next day. They were blessed with 3 children in Germany, where they lived in Munich, sharing a home with a Lutheran Pastor and his wife. Their children were all girls, Erica, Erna and Helga. In 1952, they made the big decision to come to Canada with their 3 small children. My dad’s brother had come earlier and ‘sponsored” them. They had one more daughter in Canada, Lilly. She was supposed to be a boy, it was always reported, but in later years they came to appreciate the fact that she was a girl. My dad thought that coming to Canada was the most exciting thing ever. They came and worked hard, at one time having a number of rental homes, always a large garden and later on, an acreage. My dad worked for many years as a mechanic at R.J.R. Noyes, until retirement. My dad enjoyed making baskets and at one point, we talked him into teaching a few ladies who were interested. It was hilarious, because he didn’t have a lot of patience and would tell them “Mission Impossible,” and that they would never get it. He also enjoyed doing puzzles and spent many, many hours making them. His favorite thing was to build a nice fire in the fireplace and we would work on a puzzle for the evening. If any of the family was there, they would work on it too. My mom would sit nearby working on whatever creation she was into at that time. (She never did like puzzles). There was a time when he figured we needed more light in order to see better, so he would rig up these contraptions over the puzzle. They were huge and ghastly looking, but served the purpose. When we completed a puzzle, there was no way he was going to take it apart and put int back in the box. It got glued onto cardboard (that we had to get from boxes fairly regularly) and after it was glued onto cardboard, it got mounted on the wall of the rumpus room. Needles to say, the walls of their rumpus room were very colorful and completely covered with everything from ships to tigers to landscapes. I remember my mom and dad being the best of friends and would talk about the old country and their friends and family until deep into the night. After my mom passed away, it always seemed that my dad had lost half of himself. My dad was a religious man and when he was in an American Prison of War Camp for a year, he started to read the Bible. My mom would attest to the fact that he came home a very changed and devout man. He also, during that year, learned how to play chess and spent many hours of enjoyment. Even in his later years, he would play chess in the Pioneer Lodge with Roland Starke, who was kind enough to go over and play with him. All of us girls would speak “half German” “half English,” whatever suited the moment or in whatever language he started. While we were growing up, he would hear an English word and use it all the time, sometimes much out of context. We would laugh and tell him that it shouldn’t be used that way. He would just grin and continue using it however he thought. We will all miss our dad. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Adele, one daughter, Erica Schamedatus and two step-grandchildren Steven Johnson and Kara Goodwin. He leaves to mourn, three daughters, Erna, her husband Hubert of Edmonton; Helga, her husband Klaus of Edmonton; and Lilly, her husband Harold of Lloydminster, his sister, Wanda Berg of Lloydminster, several step-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Card of Thanks Our family would like to thank Dr. Ryan du Plooy whom our dad really liked and considered not only his doctor, but a friend, Also the staff at the Dr. Cooke Nursing Home. He always said how wonderful and kind you all were. Thank-you. Thank you to Pastor Astley who visited our dad so many times over the last number of years. Also for your kindness upon his passing and your thoughtful words at his service. Also thank you to Brenda Findlay who has such a special gift of music. Thank you to the pallbearers for being there for us and the Lutheran Church Ladies for a lovely lunch. Thank you to those who sent food, flowers, cards and donations. It meant a lot to us. Also thank you to Dale McCaw for his comfort and understanding in the professional and special manner in which he always handles arrangements. To all who attended the funeral service, your presence was appreciated. We know he has gone to a much better place where he can be with our mom and Erica. Erna & Hubert Helga & Klaus Lilly & Harold Donations in memory of Walter may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or to a charity of the donor’s choice.