ALFRED ALBERT GUSTAV MACHEL

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ALFRED ALBERT GUSTAV MACHEL May 15, 1921 - October 8, 2003 Alfred was born in Marbostal, Germany. He was the son of Gustav and Minnie (Kopetski) Machel. Shortly after the death of his mother and three sisters, he and his father immigrated to Canada. Alfred was 2 years of age when they arrived in Canada on March 24, 1924. Upon arrival to Manitoba he and his father lived in Inglis MB, where his father found work and Alfred was taken care of by relatives. When Alfred was 8 years of age, his father remarried (Augusta Rosnow) and the family of three moved to Whitemouth, MB. Alfred attended several different schools, River Hills, Lonely Dale, and Oldenburg, until he completed grade 6. Subsequently, he left school and worked in various locations, including logging camps for which he was paid $1.00 per day. One of his goals was to save enough money in order to purchase a bicycle. He was able to achieve this goal. In 1943, Alfred was called for service in the Canadian Army. He was sent overseas and served in England, Belgium, and Holland with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Regiment (P.P.C.L.I.). After the war in Europe ended, Alfred returned to Canada and received his discharge from the Canadian Army in 1946. During the next two years he worked in road construction. In 1954 Alfred married Edith Elly Gesell, daughter of Hertha (nee Kohle) and Samuel Gesell. They built a home in Whitemouth where they resided until 1997. He became employed with the Manitoba Department of Highways and Transportation and retired from the department after 35 years of employment. Alfred was predeceased by his father Gustav, his mother Minnie, his stepmother Augusta, three sisters who died in Germany and one sister Irene Mary Hulmes (Ivor) who died in Canada. He is also predeceased by one son Ronald who died in a tragic accident in 1993. Alfred is survived by his wife Edith; four sisters, Martha Zech (Eric), Marge Lindblat (Lauri), Norma Burym (Matt), Rose Gesell (Gary), Eric (Ruth), and Elly Anderson (Harley). Alfred and Edith, who have been married 49 years, have two children surviving, Pamela Hawranik (Gerald) with grandchildren, Melanie and Marcie; and their son, Wilson (Anna) with their children, Richard, Rebecca and husband Chris Moore, David, and Kristopher. Alfred will be remembered as a hard-worker and dedicated husband, father and grandfather. His fierce desire to be independent and self-sufficient was to be admired. Prayer service will be held on Friday (tonight), October 10 at 8:00 p.m. at Sobering Funeral Chapel, Park Ave. E. Beausejour, MB. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Beausejour, with Pastor Hugh Laidlaw officiating. Interment will follow at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if friends and family so desire, donations in Alfreds memory may be made to Zion Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Box 968, Beausejour, MB ROE OCO. SOBERING FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, Beausejour 268-3510 or MB Toll Free 1-877-776-2220

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 10, 2003