Willi Bauer

On September 29, 2022, Willi passed away at home at the age of 85 after surviving many health challenges. He is survived by his loving wife Anni of 59 years, his two daughters Janet and Carmen and his four grandchildren – Cynthia, Tyler, Mathew and Nicole as well as many family and friends in Alberta, Germany and the Ukraine. Willi was pre-deceased by his father Heinrich Bauer, his mother Emma Wormsbecher, his step father Heinrich Wormsbecher and his brothers Arthur and Christian Bauer.

Willi was born in Rosenfeld (Konopleva), Ukraine on June 11, 1937. In 1944 Willi’s mother made the trek from the Ukraine to Poland by horse and wagon with her three young boys. They then went to West Germany where they lived until they immigrated to Canada in 1952. Willi, his two brothers and his mother all worked in the sugar beet fields in Southern Alberta. They eventually settled in Calgary where Willi began his career as an upholsterer.

In 1963 Willi moved to Medicine Hat Albert and married Anni Schlenker. He opened his own upholstery shop and later expanded it to include the sale of new furniture. In 1973, Willi, Anni and their daughters moved to Victoria British Columbia. He continued to run his own upholstery business. He also enjoyed his hobby farm. After selling the upholstery shop, he worked as an upholsterer on cruise ships all over the world.

Willi enjoyed sailing, boating, fishing and their recreational property at Otter Point. He loved to bird watch and was an amazing whistler and winker. He also enjoyed watching sports and the German channel on TV. His favourite expression was ‘Man a Life!’

No one was ever a stranger to Willi. He loved to meet new people, listen to their stories and learn about their lives. In his later years he loved ‘cruisin’ on his scooter to the duck pond, the thrift store, Home Depot and around the neighbourhood. Willi was always puttering, making and fixing things in his own unique way. His outlook and attitude was always optimistic. He was happy, always smiled and gave everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Willi’s greatest achievements was his 59 year marriage to Anni, raising Janet and Carmen and instilling values and wisdom in them and his grandchildren. He was loved by them all and will be greatly missed.

The family would like to thank the paramedics, doctors, nurses and numerous health care workers who cared for Willi over the years.

THANK YOU CANADA!

To see more on Willi’s life, please click the links below:

• Video: ‘Man a Life’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9xSbEWIHZM&ab_channel=WilliBauer

• History: Germans from Russia

https://jb-germansfromrussia.blogspot.com/

Please share a memory or story that you have about Willi in the ‘Comments’ section. If you have photos you’d like to share with the family, please email them to: grandpabauer7@gmail.com.