Obituary of Henry John Schmidt

Heinrich Johannes (Henry John) Schmidt

June 10, 1926 -  May 22, 2020

It is with great sadness, that with his son and daughter by his side that we must announce the passing of Henry Schmidt. He has begun his journey to be with is wife Anneliese in eternity.
 

Henry is predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Anneliese.

 

He is survived by his daughter Ingrid (Marvin) Williams, son Walter Schmidt and granddaughters Kellie and Ashlee Williams, sister Hedwig Menze and family, sister in law Ingeborg Schmidt and family and many cousins from the Tebbe and Fortmann clans from across Canada and Germany.

 

Henry was born in the small village of Sevelten, Germany. He continued to live there until 1949 when he had an opportunity to go to Canada where he ended up on his Uncle Henry Tebbe’s grain farm near Humboldt, Saskatchewan.  He loved Canada so much he then applied to take his citizenship and became a Canadian.  Knowing that Canada was a huge country he ventured out west to see what was available to him. He instantly fell in love with the countryside around Cranbrook and found a job as a lumberjack.  Henry worked for Kennelly and Jostade logging Company for about 2 years, saving his money and honing his English skills with the use of the Sears catalogue.  

 

Henry returned to Germany in 1954 and married the love of his life Anneliese and returned to Canada alone.  Anna soon followed, and she was able to immigrate. With the two now together, the family growing, Henry decided to move on to a more permanent job and got hired on by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. He had worked his was up learning various jobs and held the position of car inspector and car mechanic. He remained with the railroad until his retirement in 1986, after 33 years of service.

Henry was involved with the Eagles, German Canadian clubs of Cranbrook. He was an avid hockey and soccer fan and could be seen at the local arenas and fields. He was always up to going creek and river fishing and as he got older with his boat and camper, he and Anna would spend many a days camping and fishing at their favorite spots of Premier and White Swan lakes.

If Henry and Anna weren’t camping they were travelling. They made numerous trips to Germany, and Saskatchewan for family visits.  They had two major camping trips to Alaska with some of their good friends, trips also to Nevada, California and other parts of Canada, Brazil and finally Cuba.

It is of Henry’s request of a private remembrance and will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Henry requested a donation can be made to Alzheimer Society
of B.C. or a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services:

Condolences for the family can be offered at:
www.mcphersonfh.com