GUNTER FERDINAND MESA

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

GUNTER FERDINAND MESA On Monday, May 23, 2005, after a lengthy illness, Gunter Ferdinand Mesa passed away peacefully at the Beausejour Health Centre, at the age of 76. He is survived by his wife, Hilda Annelise Mesa (nee Kannenberg); their son Peter (Mona Szabo), grandchildren, Melissa and Sean; their daughters, Kathryn Mesa (Grant Pogson), granddaughter Angela; Margaret Scora (Daryl), granddaughters, Jennifer and Karen; Christine Mesa (Adam Olson); and many friends and extended family. Gunter was predeceased by his parents Ferdinand and Hedwig (nee Pfropfreis). Gunter was born on April 1, 1929, in Baumgarten Kreis Frankenstein Niederschlesien, which then belonged to Germany, but is now part of Poland. He was able to immigrate to Canada in 1951 and he wore many hats before settling down; as a lumberjack in bush camps in Quebec and in Kapuskasing, ON and in Inglewood on Vancouver Island, a construction worker in Vancouver, a miner in the surface gold mines in the Yukon and finally a welder in Manitoba. As Gunter was working out of Winnipeg and travelling around Manitoba on different welding jobs, he met his wife Hilda through friends in the Winnipeg German community. On July 13, 1957, they were married in Regina and lived in Brandon for a while. They moved back to Winnipeg and finally purchased their first house on Henderson Highway. Gunter continued welding, but they began to dabble in raising gamebirds and hunting dogs. In November 1970, Gunter, Hilda, Peter, Kate and Margaret moved to their Springfield Game Farm: Shooting Preserve east of Anola, MB and began their life as game bird farmers. A few years and many pheasants later, their daughter Christine was born. Gunter and Hilda enjoyed the quiet years after the children and pheasants had flown the coop, visiting their children wherever they went and spending time watching the beautiful change in seasons. Gunter was a longtime member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters union, St. Hubertus Game and Fish Association, Ducks Unlimited, German Club and the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Pope Pius the 10th Roman Catholic Church in Glass and then helped build the church Our Lady of Hope in Anola. However, his favourite pastime was taking his dog for a walk through the back forty, or hunting the elusive big buck. Prayers will be held on Friday evening, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. in Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church, Anola, MB. Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday morning, May 28 at 10:00 a.m., also in the church, with Rev. Fr. Owen Steeves presiding. Interment will follow in the Eastdale Cemetery, Anola, MB. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gunter's memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Manitoba Wildlife Federation. WOJCIK'S ALL BELIEFS FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM 897 - 4665

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 26, 2005