RUDOLF (RUDI) FERDINAND BONSEL

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RUDOLF (RUDI) FERDINAND BONSEL June 5, 1922 - August 31, 2009 It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Rudi on Monday, August 31, 2009. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Thea, his son-in-law Leo Fraser (Rosemarie), his granddaughters, Colleen Fraser (Doss) and Andrea McDougall (Steven) and great-granddaughter Thea Conley. He will also be missed by his brothers Herbert and Heinz and their families in Germany. Rudi was predeceased by his beloved daughter Ursula Fraser in 2004 and brother Egon. Rudi was born on June 5, 1922 in Koblenz, Germany. Even as a young child Rudi was a hard worker, delivering handbags and cakes from the shops around his home earning enough money to purchase the parts to build his own bicycle. After completing his bicycle, Rudi joined the Pathfinders, with whom he cycled all over Europe during his early teen years. In his later teens, he began his training as a tailor which was a career path that helped shape the rest of his life. During the 1940s Rudi spent several years fighting in the Second World War before being taken as a prisoner of war and sent to several prison camps where he was held for five years. These were hard years for him, but he managed to use his industriousness to his advantage and in 1949 he was released and returned home to Koblenz. Here he was reunited with his family and met his wife Thea whom he married a year later on December 19, 1950. In 1952, Rudi and Thea were blessed with their daughter Ursula, who was the pride and joy of their lives. In 1957 they made the decision to leave their home and start a new life in Winnipeg. Arriving with very little, they went on to build a wonderful life in Canada. Rudi worked in a tailor shop for several years before becoming the Clothing Supervisor at Stony Mountain Institution, a job of which he was extremely proud. In 1980 Rudi was diagnosed with Lymphoma and decided to retire, but he was able to make a full recovery and go on to enjoy his retirement years practicing carpentry and spending time at their cottage and in Cuba, his two favourite places. Rudi was a dedicated husband who loved his wife unconditionally. He was an adoring father and Opa, whose later life revolved around his daughter and granddaughters. In his last few weeks, the arrival of his great-granddaughter Thea brought him immense joy and loving pride. Rudi could be very hard headed and stubborn, but he was also incredibly generous and always loved making people laugh. Opa will be terribly missed but his memory will be carried on in his endless stories and jokes. I love you , I love you, I love you. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4 at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, 847 St. Mary's Road. Family and friends are invited to sign the Book of Condolences at www.desjardins-funeral.ca DESJARDINS 233-4949 1-888-233-4949

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 03, 2009