1926 – 2016
On December 5, 2016, Siegfried (Fred) Winter passed away in his sleep surrounded by his immediate family. He is survived by his wife Gerda, his daughter Andrea, his son Norman and his grandson Leif and in Germany his sister Kaethe Hemme and nephew Klaus and nieces Doerta and Tina.
Fred was born in Podejuch, Germany on July 18, 1926. At 14 years he was conscripted into the war effort. At 16 he found himself on the Eastern Front for two and a half years followed by five years in Russia as a prisoner of war. To say he was a survivor is an understatement.
After being released from the gulag, Fred returned to Berlin and became an electrician and worked for several years before immigrating to Canada in 1952. Fred spent two years as a farm labourer in Ontario before moving to British Columbia in 1956 where he found work in his trade as an electrician. In the fall of 1957 Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting hired Fred as an electrician and Flin Flon, Manitoba became his home for the next 37 Years.
Fred returned to Germany and married Gerda Sophie Schoenig on October 1, 1958. The new couple soon returned to Flin Flon to start a new life together and raise a family. They had a passion for x-country skiing and spent many hours volunteering for the local club. Fred was happiest when he was outdoors and happier yet when working outdoors. He spent many summer hours building ski trails for the local club and his family. Skiing spurred an interest in physical activity and he loved running, swimming, x-country skiing, biking, dancing and water skiing.
In 1994 Fred and Gerda moved to Salmon Arm, British Columbia to be closer to family. While in BC they engaged in x-country skiing, swimming, dancing and gardening.
A memorial service will be held at Brandon Bower’s Funeral Home in Revelstoke, British Columbia on December 12, 2016, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cancer Society or The Salvation Army.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to Fred’s family by viewing his obituary at: www.brandonbowersfuneralhome.com.
Cremation arrangements are in the care of Brandon Bowers Funeral Home, Revelstoke.
