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Fred, deeply loved, is remembered for his devotion to family and his gentle spirit. Fred will be forever missed by his wife Edith, daughters Leanna, Wendy & Katherine, sister Maria (Richard) VanderLee, uncle Gustle (Maria deceased) Wolbert, uncle Walter (Katie) Wolbert, his six grandchildren and a warm circle of family and friends. Fred was predeceased by his brother Walter and his parents Oskar and Anna.
Fred was 8 when his family crossed from Germany to Canada on board the M.S. Arosa Sun. He met his high school sweetheart Edith in Lethbridge; they married in 1971, backpacked for 2 years through Australia, New Zealand and Europe before settling down to raise their 3 daughters in Edmonton. Fred’s love of nature took him and his family every summer to the forests of Western Canada for weeks of hiking, swimming, camping and living life to the fullest in the great outdoors.
A graduate of SAIT, Fred put his smarts to work at the original Edmonton Telephone company. Beyond his career, he loved the challenge of doing his own carpentry and car repairs, always finding innovative ways to make things last longer. Fred divided his retirement years between Edmonton and beautiful Nelson, BC, where you were likely to find him on the beach with his grandchildren.
Above all, Fred valued family, freedom and the natural world. Possessions meant little to Fred, aside from a good sun visor. Instead, he found deep contentment in a ray of sunshine, a flower blossom, a beautiful view. He gave the best hugs, cheered the loudest at our smallest achievements and was always there to hold out his comforting hand. Steadfast, good-humored and loving, Fred is missed intensely by those lucky enough to have known him.
We will be arranging a celebration of Fred’s life when his circle of loved ones can gather together. Guests will be invited to eat their dessert first, as Fred would have wanted.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Fred Mathias Wolbert February 24 1949
April 1 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Nelson, Province: Colombie britanique