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Rudolf Mader
1906 - 2001
He was a long-time resident of Tomslake, Pouce Coupe and Dawson Creek.
Rudolf Josef Mader died peacefully on June 11, 2001 in Edmonton at the home of his daughter Ingrid Seitinger, her husband Gary and their family.
Better known as "Rudy", he was born on March 3, 1906 in the Moravian town of Sternberg which was at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now located in the Czech Republic.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Maria Lydia, one brother Hans and one sister Anna Faulhammer. He is survived by his daughter Ingrid, his son-in-law Gary, his grandchildren Christie and Brian, two great grandsons Tor and Gunnar and two nephews overseas. His father died of wounds and disease suffered in the First World War. His mother managed a large restaurant in the Workers' Hall ("Arbeiter Heim"), the centre of all anti-Nazi politics, as well as large social events in Sternberg. He attended a technical school and graduated as an electrician and maintenance technician.
The year 1938 was a turbulent one in Europe. In March, Hitler annexed Austria. On Sept. 12th, he made one of his hysterical speeches when he highlighted the plight of Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia. This led to violent attacks on anything or anybody who was identified as an anti-Nazi. Many people were hurt and some murdered. The Czech authorities showed themselves to be powerless or unwilling to intercede.
The "Munich Agreement" between Daladier of France, Chamberlain of Britain ("Peace in our Time") Mussolini of Italy and Hitler was broken by Hitler. Czechoslovakia mobilized but it became crystal clear that the West would desert the Czechs in breach of the existing treaties and thus deserted the last central European bastion of democracy.
It was high time for everyone known for their anti-Nazi activities to leave or stay and probably be killed.
Rudy was in Prague, employed by the German Social Democratic Labour Party of Czechoslovakia. He was in fact the bodyguard and driver of Wenzel Jaksch, the party's leader, whom Hitler openly promised to "pickle" as a memento of his last obstacle to the occupation of Czechoslovakia. He was a prominent member of the paramilitary wing of the party, the Republican Guard (known as the "R.W.") which was in the forefront of the remaining resistance to the Nazis.
Many, but not too many by far, of the exposed members of the party had fled the country. Rudy was lucky to escape when he was given the job to accompany a flight of endangered children to London. They were children of people who were sent out to safety without them.
In London he was able to establish contact with the office of Willi Wanka, who organized the emigration of the Sudeten German refugees when the Government of Mackenzie King agreed to admit 1,000 of them to Canada. Rudy was one of those accepted to settle in Tupper Creek (now Tomslake), He arrived there with 90 others on April 22, 1939. They were unloaded at the Tupper station of the N.A.R. and transferred to the remnants of the long-defunct Gundy Ranch where they and their meager belongings were dumped into the snow and mud. Each family was issued a small tent as there were not enough shelters available, except for a couple of log shacks with leaking roofs.
The new arrivals went to work immediately as this was a fight for survival and the need to lay the foundation of a new settlement which they, together with all the subsequent arrivals, had to carved out of the bare wilderness.
Rudy was a fiercely independent person. He contributed immensely to the task at hand and came here with the resolve to build a new and secure life for his family. Many obstacles lay ahead, they were there to be mastered. He did not expect it to be easy. Following the duties which he owed the Community, he was ready for his own start. As the administration and planning were in the hands of the Canada Colonization Association, Rudy had to convinced the people in charge that he was capable of making his own decisions and to take responsibility for his and his family's fate. Be it as it may, he was allowed to move to "his" quarter section of totally undeveloped land and was issued such equipment which the C.C.A. people felt he was entitled to. Arrangements were made about access to other needs from the Community resources and such duties which he would continue to owe to the Community.
He cleared some 20 acres of land which were broken as part of his entitlement, he built a barn and put in a crop. But he saw opportunities to speed up his progress by seeking work on nearby farms. He had no problem with finding such employment The further development of his homestead was left in the hands of his wife and daughter while he earned money and the respect of his employers.
It was the time when the American Corps of Engineers came here to build the Alaska Highway. He soon found work with them in his learned trade. When this job came to an end, he found work with the B.C. Department of Public Works. He helped to build the microwave relay stations which were connected to the Early Warning Radar System and when the C.N. looked for a maintenance person to keep these installations operative, Rudy Mader was their man. He held the job right up until the time of his retirement.
Rudy was a "Community Man". During the tourist season, he often volunteered as a guide and host in the Heritage Park, with a special interest in Sudeten Hall. He was a regular participant in the Terry Fox Run, an activity which he finally discontinued at the age of 80.
He always enjoyed painting and wood carving. Now he was able to devote more time to these hobbies and further development of his artistic vein. The results were astonishing.
The tragic loss of his wife and the mother of Ingrid left a deep rent in his life which he was never able to overcome but he continued to reside in Dawson Creek, in the environment which he felt suited him best.
When his daughter Ingrid was eventually successful in persuading her Dad to join her and the Seitinger family, Rudy found new and great pleasure in being the loved and doted-on Grandpa of Christie and Brian and followed their development into the next generation, when he was able to enjoy the love and devotion of his two great grandsons Tor and Gunnar.
Rudy had an indomitable sense of humour with a twinkle in his eye which no one who knew him will ever forget. He was a man who knew his way through life, a man of many talents, and he knew where and when to apply them.
His life history is witness to his sterling character. He was always able to look anyone and any adversity straight in the eye.
He will always remain alive in the memory of his family. It is a close family.
His friends will recall the many friendly encounters with a man of unusual strength of faith in mankind and the many acts of kindness for which he never expected recognition.
Rudy has chosen Dawson Creek for his place of eternal rest.
Cremation has taken place.
Alice Madill
April 28, 1914 - November 1, 2001
A funeral service for the late Alice Madill of Clayhurst was held on Wednesday, November 7, at 2 p.m. from the Evangelical Free Church of Goodlow, Pastor Dan Fletcher officiated. Interment followed in the Clayhurst Cemetery.
Alice Madill was born at Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, on April 28, 1914 to Gisli and Valgerdur Bildfell. She grew up on a farm outside Foam Lake.
Alice graduated from the Yorkton School of Nursing in 1945. She nursed at Foam Lake, Rose Valley, and later on at Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe.
She was marriage to Earl Ross Madill at her parents' home in Foam Lake on November 11, 1951.
The next few years they farmed and worked on road construction in Saskatchewan, and logged at Prince George in winter. They settled in Clayhurst in 1956. Harvey was born on July 7, 1958. They moved to their present home in 1965.
Alice was well known for her white cake, her beautiful flowers and untold numbers of knitted booties, infant toques, socks and mitts. Her generosity touched many lives.
Alice accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Saviour in 1960 and was very faithful to her commitment. Her love for her Lord was very evident to all who knew her.
Alice will be greatly missed by her son Harvey, Violet (Jim) Soveran, Chris (Jack) Virgin, Winnie Bildfell, nieces and nephews, many friends and neighbours, and her church family. She was predeceased by her husband Earl, four brothers and eight sisters.
Funeral arrangements were under the care of Reynars Funeral Chapel and Crematorium Dawson Creek, B.C.
Mary Ann Mahlauon
1930 - 2001
Mary Ann Mahlauon was born on December 27,1930 in Brownvale Alberta.
Nothing is known of Mary Ann's earlier life but in July of 1995 she became a resident of Rotary Manor.
Mary Ann liked to go shopping, on outings and picnics and she enjoyed socializing with the other residents. The staff and residents of the Manor soon became Mary Ann's "family". It was not uncommon to see her hugging staff in the hall. Although Mary Ann was friendly and social she also enjoyed the solitude of her room where she would spend time playing games or figuring out her lottery tickets.
Mary Ann had a kind heart and she loved shopping. She would often return with some treasure she had purchased which she would generously share with others. And who could forget how Mary Ann loved chicken. It was one of her favourite foods. She loved drumsticks and she would often eat five or six at a time on a picnic.
Mary Ann will be remembered for her kindness and she will be missed very much.
A graveside service was held for her on Friday, July 20th at the Brookside Cemetery with Bev Dunsmore officiating.
Funeral services were under the care of Reynars Chapel and Crematorium.
Frank Mamm
1928 - 2000
Frank Mamm, resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, left his earthly home to enter his heavenly home, and see his Lord and Saviour, on the morning of April 11, 2000.
A celebration of Frank's life was held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2000 at the Bergeron Funeral Chapel, Dawson Creek, with Reverend John Klassen officiating.
Interment followed at the Brookside Cemetery in Dawson Creek.
Frank was born on June 18, 1928 to Jacob and Louise Mamm in Denholm, Saskatchewan. When Frank was three years old, the family bought a homestead in Clearbrook, B.C., where he grew up with his five brothers and two sisters.
He marriage June Gerbrandt on April 27, 1957 and they built their home in Clearbrook, where they raised five children. In 1974, the whole family moved to Dawson Creek and bought a piece of land in the Progress area, where they finished raising their children. In 1988, they decided to move into Dawson Creek for their retirement years.
Frank was predeceased by his parents, Jacob and Louise; his brothers, John, Harry and Victor; and by his granddaughter Alisha.
His brothers, Jake and Irvin, and sisters, Mary and Betty, survive him. He is mourned by his wife, June, and children: Dale and Susan, Rick and Lorna, Donald, Carol Mamm, Cheryl and Mike Wassenaar; seven granddaughters, six grandsons and one great granddaughter.
Arrangements entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., Dawson Creek.
Muriel Elizabeth Marchuk
1921 - 2000
Muriel Elizabeth Marchuk passed away in Pouce Coupe on January 26, 2000 at the age of 78.
Muriel was born on December 11, 1921 in Montreal Quebec.
She was the second child of Alexander Harvey Campbell and Gwyneth Sarah Heavens. Her sisters Dorothy Therrien, Eileen Campbell and her brother Ian survive her. Two brothers died in infancy.
Muriel grew up in Montreal in the family dwelling located above her father's art gallery store on St. Catherines Street West. She completed high school just as World War II broke out. During the war, Muriel assembled industrial components for Dominion Industries. Following the war she worked at Ogiloys Department Store in window decorating, womens clothing and managing the elevator operators.
Muriel marriage Alex John Marchuk, a WWII veteran, on March 15,1947. They moved to Trois-Rivieres, Quebec where Alex worked for Reynold's Aluminum for 42 years until retirement.
The optimism and hope characteristic of the post war years benefitted Alex and Muriel's new life together.
Two sons were born - first Ian and then Peter. With lots of supportive family and friends, a stable income, healthy energetic sons and a lovingly tended home and garden, life was sweet for this young family. Muriel kept busy with knitting, organizing fund-raising bazaars for St. Andrews United Church, singing in choir and helping with Sunday School.
Tragedy struck in 1964 when Peter, her 11 year old son was killed instantly by a drunk driver. Muriel seemed unable to reconcile the grief of losing a child.
Slowly, over the years, God provided healing through various people in her life. Muriel opened her heart and home to children of friends and eventually to her first granddaughter, Sarah.
Upon retirement, in 1987, Muriel and Alex moved to Dawson Creek to be near their son Ian and granddaughter Sarah. Close friendships were formed through involvement with Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church. New grandchildren Naomi and Aaron completed the family.
Muriel's health began to decline and she was diagnosed with a form of Parkinsons Disease. Alex became care giver until his death three months after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Muriel was able to continue living in Ian's home until deteriorating health required a move to Peace River Haven and later Pouce Coupe Care Home.
Despite the loss of independence and resulting adjustments, Muriels sharp sense of humour was remarked upon by the staff at both facilities. She grew increasingly peaceful and contented in the last months. The assurance of Muriel's new life in the heavenly realms through the saving grace of Jesus brings comfort and strength to those who loved her.
Muriel leaves to mourn her son Ian; daughter-in-law Erna; grandchildren Sarah, Naomi and Aaron; one brother; two sisters; as well as many friends across Canada.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Reynar's funeral Chapel. The cremated remains will be interred beside those of Alex and Peter in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.
Mary Marion
1916-2002
Mary Marion, resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, passed away on February 26, 2002 at 85 years of age. A funeral service was held at 10:30 am at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church, with Father John Smith officiating. Interment followed at the Brookside Cemetery, Dawson Creek.
Eulogy written and read by Pat O'Reilly:
Mary was born in Leader, Saskatchewan (southwestern Saskatchewan, near the Alberta border, south of the South Saskatchewan River, east of Empress and Drumheller, Alberta) on June 3, 1916. At about 15 years of age, she moved with her family to the Willow Valley area in 1931. Mary and Alberi Marion (known as 'Bere'), were marriage October 19, 1939. Their wedding dance was held at the old Central School near McQueen's Slough just east of the family farm. After 58 years together, Bere passed away in September of 1998. Mary and Bere brought 11 children into the world, 8 sons and 3 daughters. Vernon, Oscar, John, Joe, Rosemary, Julia, Rene, Frank, Bettymay, Vern and Teddy.
Mary made a warm home for her family and for those who visited. This was a home that never lacked for interesting discussions, pranks and the coming and going of many friends and neighbors. Mary did not always hold with political correctness nor was she backward about letting people know what she thought and where she stood.
As I listened to the family reminisce, and as I have visited with them over many years, I have been struck by the amount of laughter and general good humour that they display. This is a family that enjoys life. I think Mary's up front nature resulted in many situations where things would be set up just to get a reaction from Mary. The stories are many and I think would involve the majority of Mary's children and their spouses. As I say, some of this was intentional, like the time a pair of shoes that Mary had ordered from Sears was intercepted and the new shoes were replaced in the Sears package with a used up pair of sun-baked, oversized, running shoes with turned up toes. How would you react to opening such a parcel expecting to find your choice from the Sears catalogue?
Many of the incidents were unintentional, such as the time Oscar was giving Rene a casting lesson with his new fishing rod. They had decided to use a good sized metal washer on the line. This would help young Renee's cast sail a little further. It happened that they were standing in front of a window, a big window. In the house behind that window, Mary was sitting, relaxing and rolling a cigarette. Rene flailed back with his cast, the washer went through the window, Mary's tobacco and papers covered a wide area of the living room and the boys were filled in, in no uncertain terms as to what had gone wrong.
There was a son-in-law who created havoc by placing a label on Mary's new stove after a batch of muffins had not turned out. There were card players, some of them here today, and there were band members who got the edge of Mary's tongue for their shenanigans. At the same time, Mary treated people very well. She had an excellent sense of humor. Nobody stopped by who was not asked to sit at the table. She was an excellent cook and made great coffee, so people were pleased to sit at her table. One of the boys spoke for the family when he said, "She raised eleven children and took great care of us!" She was the mainstay that allowed Bere and the kids to do the many things that they have done. It was a rare time that you would not find Mary at home. Although when Bere played for dances, she loved to go dancing. She also liked to play bingo. Otherwise, she worked constantly, keeping the home going. In addition to the normal household work, Mary would grow a big garden, raise chickens and generally, just do what it took to keep such a large household going.
There is no way that I can adequately describe Mary's life and her impact on those she meant so much to. She was a colourful character, she worked very hard, she did the best that she knew how to do, she loved her family and she was loved by her family.
I have been asked by the family to thank Frankie, on their behalf, for looking after Mary through her illness. It really is appreciated Frank.
Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children: Oscar (Joyce) Marion, John (Debbie) Marion, Joe Marion, Rosemary (Ken) Carlson, Julia (Larry) Kirkpatrick, Rene Marion, Frank Marion, Betty Yuen, and Vernon Marion; her 12 grand-children and 13 great-grandchildren; her siblings: Tony (Fern) Wangler, Kate Usselman, Frances Tracey, Regina (Rene) Loiselle, and Julie (Dunc) Irvine.
Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., Dawson Creek, British Columbia.
Bruce Marshall
1945 - 2000
Ernest Bruce Marshall was born May 2, 1945 to Ernie and Elaine (Peirce) Marshall of Doe River. He was one of nine children.
Bruce grew up and went to school in Doe River. He was involved in many community activities such as 4-H, sports and enjoyed the many benefits of country life.
Bruce and his brother Earl were close in age and spent a lot of time together when they were young. Brother Blaine remembers going out to the field in the morning and finding that Bruce was already in the tractor or swather working the harvest. Sister Donna claims that her driving skills come from Bruce's patient teaching.
Bruce attended the Northern Institute of Technology in Edmonton where he stayed with Uncle Guy and Aunt Lorraine Emslie. Upon completion of his studies, Bruce worked with aircraft in the Edmonton Airport.
Bruce had a keen interest in cars. He owned and drove as many shiny cars as he could. One of the companies he worked for awarded him for driving a record number of miles in one month. Bruce was involved in the sport of racing which he enjoyed very much.
When Bruce returned from Edmonton, he brought with him his new family: wife Mary and children Sean and Linda. The final addition to Bruce's family was their son Blaine, affectionately known as "Little Blaine"
They became part of the many Marshall traditions such as Easter Egg hunts and Sunday dinners. Bruce and his family lived in Rolla and later Dawson Creek.
Bruce's personal battle with alcoholism brought many changes in his life, but he remained a very friendly, kind and gentle person.
Bruce spent some time in the Grande Prairie Hospital and University Hospital in Edmonton with his family around him.
Bruce passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2000 at the age of 54 years. He leaves to mourn three children, five grandchildren, three brothers, three sisters, nieces, nephews, an uncle, aunts, cousins and friends.
We will miss you, Bruce.
A memorial service was held at Reynars Funeral Chapel.
Albert Joseph Martin
1920 - 2000
"And then the day came when the pain it took to hang on was greater than the pain it took to let go."
Albert Joseph Martin of Westlock, Alberta passed away peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 17, 2000 at the age of 79.
His connection to Dawson Creek was the Alaska Highway, and then his daughter, Maureen (Cristall), living here the past 23 years with the only grandchildren: Erin, 23, living in Burbank, California; Jamin, 20, living in Ottawa on a UBC program; Aven, 16, in Grade 11 at SPSS and Amira, 13, in Grade 8 at Central Middle school.
Bert was born in the Dapp-Jarvie area of Alberta on August 23, 1920. His family had immigrated from Belgium in 1914 and they homesteaded. Bert studied agriculture in Vermilion in 1939, then worked on the Alaska Highway in 1942. He was a cat operator and unloaded machinery at the railhead in Dawson Creek. He also serviced this equipment so it would be ready for the contractors at the different construction camps up the highway. He later accompanied a convoy of 17 army trucks to set up a camp at the base of Summit Mountain. He drove a four-wheeled drive pusher truck at help his partner on the cat go up the hills and through the mudholes. It took 17 days to get to their camp from Dawson Creek. The pay at this time was $1 per hour, but food and accommodation at any of the tent camps was free. A year later, Bert bought his own truck, a 1939 Maple Leaf Chevrolet and hauled kerosene and aviation fuel to Fort Nelson and Dawson Creek.
In February of 1943, Bert was unloading fuel at the Fort Nelson airport when a pilot reported that Dawson Creek had blown up. Many people thought it was a bomb, but it was improperly stored dynamite. He drove back to Dawson creek to see the devastation. He said that by May, the army boys had cleaned up and rebuilt the town. Bert returned to Jarvie in 1945, met a young school teacher, Gertie Gray from Kitscoty, Alberta, and marriage her July 10, 1945.
From 1945-49, Bert cleared land with his own outfit, then sold it and bought a farm near Jarvie. He and Gertie had three children; Sharon, born in 1947; Maureen, born in 1950; and Jim, born in 1953. In 1967, Bert went to Auctioneering School in Mason City, Iowa and spent several years at the Westlock Auction Mart and doing private farm auctions. Later, he had his own real estate business, then studied steam engineering by correspondence from NAIT. In 1969, he became chief engineer at the Immaculata Hospital in Westlock and sold the farm. He and Gertie moved to Westlock and he retired in 1982.
Bert was an avid hunter, fisherman and camper. He loved to tell tall stories and visit people. He and Gert were dancers and rarely missed a local social outing. Their friends were many and very special to them. During the 1980s, they spent several winters in Mesa, Arizona doing lapidary work and visiting the grandchildren. Summers were spent gardening, golfing and traveling by camper to Cypress Hills, Banff, Dawson Creek and Kitscoty to visit family members. They celebrated Rendez-Vous in '92 in Dawson Creek and reminisced with many of the men who had also worked on building the Alaska Highway.
July 10, 1995 was a big 50th wedding celebration in Jarvie with beloved family and friends. Bert's pride and joys were his children and grandchildren. He has left them all a legacy of joy and integrity and the importance of living those "perfect moments", with a smile and a dance.
Mark Twain wrote these words. "I do not think of heaven as a glittering place, with streets of gold and walls of pearl, but more like the quiet woods, where the grass is green and little brook sings all day. I have thought of heaven as a place where those who love shall be together, free from all thought of parting."
Bless you, Dad. Have coffee at the Heaven Inn with all those friends who went before you and you have missed so much.
Peter Oliver Martschin
1981-2001
Peter Oliver Martschin, resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, passed away on December 10, 2001 in Farmington, BC. A funeral service was held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, 2001 at the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church, Dawson Creek, with Father Chris Lynch officiating. Cremation followed.
Peter was born on May 19, 1981 in Oliver, BC, where he lived until he was 4 1/2 years young. This is when his family pulled up stakes and moved their home and family business to Dawson Creek. He went to Notre Dame School from kindergarten to grade seven. His schooling continued at Central, and S.P.S.S. from which he graduated in 1999.
He spent many of his young days coming to work with his dad; going to many homes in Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, and Tumbler Ridge, repairing appliances and locks.
Eulogy:
Peter Martschin was a musician; but then, he came from a family of musicians. His mother, Gertraud is our band master in the Dawson Creek Community Band. There were four members of his family in our band when we made our first overseas trip, to Austria, in 1997. Peter had been one of his mother's music students at Notre Dame, and came to our band with her. By 1997, Peter had been with the band for close to a decade.
We remember the search to find a uniform small enough to fit 'Little Peter' so he could march and play the snare drum beside his Dad in the 1992 High Prairie Rodeo Parade. He was eleven.
Peter spent useful time in percussion, but he was learning trumpet too, and fairly quickly settled down to play in the brass section. There is a process to learning an instrument, and in trumpet especially, there is a separation of parts in the music played. Peter started out on third and worked his way up the ladder. The first time I really started watching Peter, he was out on the rink with a lacrosse stick in his hands.
In 1997, the band made its first trip overseas to Austria and Germany. We were going back to Gertraud and Robert's hometowns, so there was a lot of pressure. The final concert that we played in Klein-Pochlarn, Austria; with Gertraud directing, Peter on trumpet, and Robert and Bettina on percussion, still sticks in my mind as the best concert the band has ever performed.
There are performances and then there are 'performances', for those sixty people on that bus, the most famous 'performance' of the trip, was the emergency pit stop on the autobahn, for Peter, Adam, Marco, and Sean after the beer garden concert.
We had our second trip this past summer and by this time, Peter was playing lead trumpet. To prepare for the trip we had a band camp at Gwillim Lake. Peter celebrated his 20th birthday there, fittingly, he awoke to the sound of a trumpet.
Our trip this year started in London, moved on to Paris, and then our real destination; the small German town of Heims-Heim. There is a community band there that had agreed to billet us and more importantly, was having a three day festival the weekend we arrived.
We played our music and listened to the bands perform. What we all remember is, of course, that this was a Schlegler Fest - that is a medieval festival that ran the same time as band performances and beer garden. There were a number of Medieval arts protrayed, but it was the horse and lance contest that really caught our attention. The horse was a 45-gallon drum mounted on two axles with car tires concentrically mounted. The Heims-Heim team had never lost. One of their riders was thrown from his horse and suffered a mild concussion and a broken arm. Our third rider was Peter.
He put his lance through the rings the fastest, he hit the target the hardest. To play lacrosse you need really good eye hand coordination. All that practice in the rink paid off. It was a close contest, but for the first time, the visitor won the trophy. I really do not know that Peter spent that much time with the trophy. None of us would let him, we were too busy passing it around from Canadian table to Canadian table.
It is always interesting to watch and listen to young players as they move along. We older members know that the students are there for a certain amount of time. The magic age of 18 is reached, they graduate and start to look around at what life has to offer. We say goodbye and thanks to them and we also say come back any time. If they have stuck with us that long, it means that they have become musicians and we will miss them when they are gone.
Peter did come back. He was sort of away for a year or so, but would sit in when his mother asked, and then he came back for good. He apprenticed with his father, and in doing that, he seemed to answer a few questions for himself. When he came back to the band, he was still young, but he was an adult.
Peter had a heritage of music to live up to. His maternal grandfather was a bandmaster in Austria for over thirty years. His mother is a wonderful musician. So, when Peter came back to the band, he also came back to the music.
When I said goodbye to Peter in May of the year he graduated, I was really saying, 'see you later'. This is much harder. I think that he was equipped to handle a long life. I think he had the ability to enjoy the good and deal with the bad. Peter was going to grow as a person and a musician.
I talked to Peter's father, Robert, on Thursday. He said his faith was strong, he knew he would see Peter again. I can only try for, ask for, that same faith because Peter was the sort of person you want to meet again.
In his day to life, and as a musician, Peter had the chops. He could hit high C and the note was true.
Peter will be lovingly remembered by his companion, Keltie Betts; parents, Robert and Gertraud Martschin; siblings, Bettina (Chris) Sollbock-Kiyawasew, Michaela Sollbock, Natalie (Andreas) Kabas, and Robert (Maria) Martschin; grandparents, Anton and Auguste Pluhar; nieces and nephews, Alexandra, Christian, Natasha, Michael-Dominik, Stefan, Daniella, Bettina, and Oliver; aunt, Gusti (David) Shepherd; and Keltie's parents, Dennis and Shirley Tollefson.
Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., Dawson Creek, British Columbia.
