KLAUS KONRAD SUESSMILCH

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KLAUS KONRAD SUESSMILCH August 8, 1934 - May 14, 2011 On Saturday, May 14, 2011 Klaus Suessmilch of Stonewall passed away after complications of a sudden stroke at the age of 76 years. Left to cherish Klaus' memory is his wife and Best Buddy Linda, of 22 years; three daughters, Candace Suessmilch, Saskatoon, SK; Christine Suessmilch, St. Albert, AB and Kimberley (Jeff) Yausie; grandson Will and granddaughter Beau Yausie of Saskatoon, SK; brother Christian (Sabine) Suessmilch, Hamburg, Germany; sister Traude (Horst) Hershfeld, Bechan, Germany; niece Martina; a great-niece; great-nephew, Bechan, Germany; and mother Elsa. He was predeceased by his father Frederic. Klaus was born in Chemnitz, Germany on August 8, 1934 to Elsa and Frederic Suessmilch. He had a difficult childhood growing up in war torn Germany, however surviving those horrors made him become a strong, independent and adventurous man. He apprenticed as a blacksmith after the war which led him eventually to immigrate to Canada after escaping from East Germany. Klaus worked in a coal mine in West Germany until he found a blacksmith in Prince Albert, SK accepting trained young men from Germany in the 1950s. He planned on staying in Canada two years but remained the rest of his lifetime. Klaus was able to return to visit his family back home many times, the last being to a school reunion in 2002. In Ontario Klaus worked in manufacturing and he operated a freezer plant for processing fish on Wallaston Lake in northern Saskatchewan. He also ran his own trucking delivery business in Prince Albert, SK and fully mastered the English language fluently. Klaus fell in love with Canada's lake country particularly northern Saskatchewan. He was proud of his canoe trip that he organized with three friends from Germany. They paddled 500 miles on the Churchill River from La Ronge to Otter Rapids crossing hundreds of small lakes and rapids. He proudly displayed his framed trip map on the wall of his cedar log cabin which he built himself on the shore of Indian Point on Turtle Lake, SK. Many wonderful times were spent there with his wife Linda, his children and many friends with Klaus always barbecuing the perfect steak. Klaus loved driving and participated in an official car rally in the 1960s co-driving from Montreal to the East coast in a Karman - Gia race car by Volkswagon. He pursued a successful career in truck and car sales with Jubilee Ford and Merlin Motors of Saskatoon receiving many awards for his work. He was very efficient and devoted to any task at hand. Klaus' dream for retirement was to live at the lake ; however, he suffered a small stroke in 2001 which led to a decision to move with his wife Linda to an acreage near Stonewall, MB her family home. He enjoyed his last years in failing health feeding the pets and horses and driving his dog Whiskey for car rides. Klaus had an avid interest in current worldly news, politics, geography and jazz music which led to enjoyable phone chats with his longtime friend Fred Ballantyne of Saskatoon, SK. Klaus remained strong and enduring to the end. In compliance with Klaus' wishes interment will take place in his loved country of Northern Saskatchewan. In lieu of flowers, donations in Klaus' memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Suite 200 - 6 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 21, 2011