GODEFRIDUS (FRITZ) HANSSEN

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GODEFRIDUS (FRITZ) HANSSEN It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father Godefridus (Fritz) Hanssen on Sunday, September 16, 2007. He is survived by his children, Michael, Theresa (Garry) and Darlene (Lawrence); his grandchildren, Beth, MacKenzie, and Mary; and by Patricia, his companion over the past year. Also left to carry on are his brothers and sisters, Gertrude (Ken), Gerald (Betty), Dorthea, Andrew (Marilyn), Henry (Margaret), Nellie (Peter), John (Angie), Jenny (Norm), and Roy; his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Carrette; his brothers and sisters through marriage, Neil (Paulette), Alice, Jim (Jodi), Liz (Troy) and sister-in-law, Sharon, as well as an army of nieces and nephews. We are fortunate to have Dad welcomed into Heaven by his wife and soul mate, Bernie. His late mother, father, father-in-law, brothers and sisters will be overjoyed to see him. Fritz was born in The Netherlands on March 15, 1939, and immigrated to Canada in the 1950s. He grew up in St. Andrews, Manitoba, and came from a large family. Being the oldest boy carried a lot of responsibility for him, and he joined the work force early in life. His gift was being mechanically inclined and he soon found his calling working on cars. While attending his sister's wedding, he met and courted his better half, Bernie, and they married on July 20, 1963. In 1969, life changed drastically with the birth of their son and the opening of Careway Auto. The family grew with two more children and for the next 36 years, they worked side by side at the shop. Fritz and Bernie did some vacation traveling through the years and were fortunate to get to Paris, Rome, London, Mexico and Hawaii. They made many friends in their travels. Fritz was known to embrace toys to their fullest. There were years of the snowmobiles with the Saturday morning trade-ins, years of the cottage at Grand Beach where it was all about getting there faster, years of the boating where the boats grew along with us children, and finally the years of camping, Okay, get real, the years of the rolling resort. Fritz was known for his community involvement. Amongst some of these were Past Commodore at the Redboine Boating Club, Past President of the Dutch Canadian Society, Past Coordinator of the Dutch Pavilion (but preferred being the head bartender), as well as being active in all aspects of the automotive industry. Fritz was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1107. In retirement he grew to love his trips to Grand Forks on Friday nights to watch the races. 1997 was the dawn of a new era for Fritz with the birth of his first grandchild. He loved being Papa and looked forward to babysitting his granddaughters and spending time with them. Fritz was very active and disliked sitting still. In the past years, he spent countless hours wandering through his yard, showing us what a green thumb could really do! The family extends a special thank you to the nursing staff at the Grace Hospital. Funeral mass will be celebrated by Msgr. D. Ward Jamieson at the St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Church, 1707 John Brebeuf Place in River Heights, on Friday, September 21 at 11:00 a.m. Inurnment will take place in the Queen of Heaven Mausoleum, Assumption Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fritz's memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 200 - 310 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0S6. Dad will be missed. LECLAIRE BROTHERS in care of arrangements, 775-2220.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 19, 2007