GUNTER JOHANN FRIEDRICH SCHNACKENBERG

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

GUNTER JOHANN FRIEDRICH SCHNACKENBERG Gunter passed away peacefully on September 13, 2012 at the age of 79. He is survived by his family in Germany; brother Herman (Marita) and sister Marga (Harold), as well as many nieces and nephews. Most especially, Gundula and Hans-Jurgen who had the good fortune to visit him this past summer and will have many memories to cherish. Gunter was predeceased by his parents Hans and Adelina; brothers Hans (Marian) and Werner; and sister Tine Maria. Gunter was born on January 13, 1933 in Zeven, Germany, a small village in the northern region of Germany. In the summer of 1959, Gunter and a friend were overheard talking about dreams of working in far away countries. An Englishman asked them if they would be interested in going to Canada as the railways were recruiting 6,000 men. And yes, Gunter was more than interested. He sold his 2500cc Go Go car for $350 and purchased a $280 ticket to Canada leaving just $70 in his pocket. He boarded the Seven Seas steam liner on September 8, 1959. Gunter arrived in the Port of Montreal where he bought a rail ticket to Winnipeg. He made his way to the Immigration office where he met the same Englishman and was told the railway positions were all filled. When he inquired if there was other work, he was told there was work on a few farms near Winnipeg. He chose Hector Anseew's dairy farm as it was close and he could understand some Flemish. Joseph Anseeuw picked him up and took him to Eaton's where his last few dollars were spent on rubber boots and a few clothes needed to work on a dairy farm. Gunter worked on the farm for two years before he booked passage back to Germany to see a girl he was sweet on; needless to say that didn't work out and broken hearted he returned to Canada where he would spend the rest of his life. Gunter retired from the farm in 1993 and moved to Winnipeg where he worked part time with Bill Wasselin servicing dairy farms in the Interlake. In 2000, his friend Margaret encouraged him to purchase a home in the peaceful community of Fisher Branch where she could care for him. Margaret did his shopping, drove him to his doctor appointments, and was a regular visitor for the remainder of his life. Thank you to the Fisher Branch home care providers who took such good care of Gunter over the past many years and to the staff of the Percy E. Moore Hospital in Hodgson who kept him clean and warm and well fed the last few weeks of his life. He loved hospital food! A man who wouldn't hurt a fly A man who did no wrong A man I am proud to have known A man I will never forget Rest in peace Gunter.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 22, 2012