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DR. CHRISTOPH FRANZ WOLKENSTEIN
Born: Aug 19, 1922
Date of Passing: Nov 29, 2011
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryDR. CHRISTOPH FRANZ WOLKENSTEIN August 19, 1922 November 29, 2011 Surrounded in love and prayer by his family, Christopher Wolkenstein passed away at the age of 89 on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 6 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Church, with Rev. Fr. Darrin J. G. Gurr presiding. A full obituary notice will follow.
DR. CHRISTOPH FRANZ WOLKENSTEIN August 19, 1922 - November 29, 2011 On November 29, 2011 Dr. Chris Wolkenstein, at the age of 89, passed away, surrounded in love and prayer by his family and dearest friends, Adriana and Louis Villa. Chris leaves behind three children: Carl; Anne (Gerry) and grandson Aaron; Franz (Donna) and granddaughter Katie, as well as his brother Leonhard in Innsbruck, Austria. He was predeceased by his dear wife of 49 years, Margo, and three brothers, Wolfgang, Ulrich, and Oswald. Chris was born on August 19, 1922 in Innsbruck, Austria, the eldest of five sons of Graf Fortunat von Wolkenstein-Rodenegg and his Italian wife Margit Locatelli. The Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Germany in March 1938, led to his father fleeing with his family to Britain. Chris and his brother Oswald were taken away while still at boarding school, interned by orders from Winston Churchill. In July 1940, Chris and Oswald were separated from their other brothers for internment and the two boys found themselves on board the HMS Dunera with 2,500 internees, almost 25% Austrian, bound for Australia. The next 20 months were spent in Hay N.S.W. internment camp. The Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, arranged for Chris and Oswald's early release to finish high school at Xavier College in Melbourne. Chris' extensive education included Medical School at University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia 1942 to 1950) where he obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery as well as General Practice; Royal College of Surgeons (London, England 1951) where he began studies in Anaesthesia; and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Centre (New York 1952 to 1954) for post graduate work in Anaesthesia. Chris fell in love with a French Canadian nurse, Marguerite (Margo) Ricard, whom he met at the hospital in New York. Chris and Margo were married on August 21, 1954 by Cardinal Leger in Montreal. They moved to Winnipeg where Chris began working at the Winnipeg General Hospital, (currently Health Sciences Centre) where he had a distinguished career as an Anaesthesiologist for 34 years until his retirement in 1988. Chris was a devoted and caring husband to Margo and extremely proud of his three children. He was passionate about history and was honoured to be a direct descendent of Count Oswald von Wolkenstein (1377 to 1445), a Tyrolese poet, composer, diplomat, and extensive traveller. Chris loved to talk! Passionate about everyone and everything. He was truly a unique man who left an indelible mark on everyone he met. He was a man of devout faith and inspiration. We feel so blessed to have had him in our lives, and we will miss him greatly. The family would like to especially thank the staff at Holy Family Home for their exceptional care these last nine years. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 6 at 1:30 p.m., at St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Church, 1707 John Brebeuf Place, with Rev. Fr. Darrin J.G. Gurr presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dad's memory can be made to www.chalice.ca
DR. CHRISTOPH FRANZ WOLKENSTEIN August 19, 1922 - November 29, 2011 On November 29, 2011 Dr. Chris Wolkenstein, at the age of 89, passed away, surrounded in love and prayer by his family and dearest friends, Adriana and Louis Villa. Chris leaves behind three children: Carl; Anne (Gerry) and grandson Aaron; Franz (Donna) and granddaughter Katie, as well as his brother Leonhard in Innsbruck, Austria. He was predeceased by his dear wife of 49 years, Margo, and three brothers, Wolfgang, Ulrich, and Oswald. Chris was born on August 19, 1922 in Innsbruck, Austria, the eldest of five sons of Graf Fortunat von Wolkenstein-Rodenegg and his Italian wife Margit Locatelli. The Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Germany in March 1938, led to his father fleeing with his family to Britain. Chris and his brother Oswald were taken away while still at boarding school, interned by orders from Winston Churchill. In July 1940, Chris and Oswald were separated from their other brothers for internment and the two boys found themselves on board the HMS Dunera with 2,500 internees, almost 25% Austrian, bound for Australia. The next 20 months were spent in Hay N.S.W. internment camp. The Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, arranged for Chris and Oswald's early release to finish high school at Xavier College in Melbourne. Chris' extensive education included Medical School at University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia 1942 to 1950) where he obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery as well as General Practice; Royal College of Surgeons (London, England 1951) where he began studies in Anaesthesia; and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Centre (New York 1952 to 1954) for post graduate work in Anaesthesia. Chris fell in love with a French Canadian nurse, Marguerite (Margo) Ricard, whom he met at the hospital in New York. Chris and Margo were married on August 21, 1954 by Cardinal Leger in Montreal. They moved to Winnipeg where Chris began working at the Winnipeg General Hospital, (currently Health Sciences Centre) where he had a distinguished career as an Anaesthesiologist for 34 years until his retirement in 1988. Chris was a devoted and caring husband to Margo and extremely proud of his three children. He was passionate about history and was honoured to be a direct descendent of Count Oswald von Wolkenstein (1377 to 1445), a Tyrolese poet, composer, diplomat, and extensive traveller. Chris loved to talk! Passionate about everyone and everything. He was truly a unique man who left an indelible mark on everyone he met. He was a man of devout faith and inspiration. We feel so blessed to have had him in our lives, and we will miss him greatly. The family would like to especially thank the staff at Holy Family Home for their exceptional care these last nine years. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 6 at 1:30 p.m., at St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Church, 1707 John Brebeuf Place, with Rev. Fr. Darrin J.G. Gurr presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dad's memory can be made to www.chalice.ca
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 01, 2011
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
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Today marks the one year anniversary of my dad's funeral mass on Saint Nicholas Day. That morning, Katie, his five year old grand-daughter, put out her shoes, and with glee, found it filled with chocolates, an orange. and a coin. My brother Franz watched his daughter as her eyes got big. My father instilled many such traditions in us, and we miss him dearly. Tough shoes to fill! God is Love, and we love you and feel your presence daily, dad. - Posted by: Anne Wolkenstein-Geall (Daughter) on: Dec 06, 2012