Winfried Riechelmann of Medicine Hat passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at the age of 85 years. He leaves to cherish his memory four children: Anke Carnegie (Greg Brown), Maike Kemball (Mark Lehar), Annegret (Len) Seefried, Kim (Tanis) Riechelmann, and their mother, Uta Riechelmann; seven grandchildren, Michelle (Connor) Hodgins and their sons, Henry and Elliott; Brian Kemball; Shawn Carnegie; Linden (Andrea) Carnegie and their son, Aiven; Tenille Riechelmann; Tyler Riechelmann; and Sierra Finley; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by parents, Hertha and Otto Riechelmann in 1988 and 1993 respectively, as well as sister, Waltraud Matthiessen in 1978. Winfried was born in Hamburg, Germany on August 21, 1936. Immediately after completing his formal schooling, he entered a woodworking trade-school apprenticeship program, finishing top of his class in 1955, and became a Master Carpenter. His long carpentry career began with building furniture and cabinets, and selling and installing high end prefabricated kitchens. Dad was known for his precision work, having a good eye and his tireless work ethic. Winfried married Uta (Grams) in 1960, together they had four children, the first two in Germany the last two following our immigration to Canada in 1970. Moving his young family to Medicine Hat allowed him to reunite with his older sister Waltraud, who had immigrated here in 1952. In 1973, dad founded Winfried Construction & Custom Cabinets and worked as a busy finishing carpenter for many years. In 1974, dad built his first house in Medicine Hat, start to finish, by then for our family of six. The following year, he built a home for his parents and brought them to Canada to be reunited with their son and daughter’s families. Sadly, dad’s sister passed away just three years later. Numerous custom-built homes followed thereafter, eventually under the banner of Winfried Construction Ltd. At the height of his home building years, dad’s large company built 52 homes in a single year and featured numerous houses in Medicine Hat’s Parade of Show Homes. In 1979, dad built the Bison Building on South Railway Street, a multi unit office/warehouse building, which he also owned and operated for 25 years. In 1986, dad was awarded the “Golden Hammer Distinguished Builder Award” by the New Home Warranty Program of Alberta.
Dad lived a full life of adventure, love, and laughter. In his early years, he enjoyed spending time with a large group of youth-club friends, in activities such as dancing, camping, and travelling throughout Europe on bicycle and motor scooter. During the family years, his passion for the outdoors included camping on the coast of Denmark and later in the Cypress Hills (Elkwater) and RV’ing all over western Canada. Dad was known to enjoy photography, beautiful flowers, cats, bison, barbequing, making amazing German potato salad, sight-seeing, waterskiing, fishing, West coast salmon fishing, sail fishing in Mexico, watching soccer and hockey games. Dad taught all of us to fish, and insisted that whomever catches a fish must also clean that fish. Dad had a passion for cars and very much just enjoyed driving. He was always eager for trips to forested areas, lakes, mountains and the ocean. Dad enjoyed music, attending concerts, playing the organ and harmonica and listening to his extensive record collection. Mozart was his favourite composer. Dad loved to travel; some notable destinations were Hawaii, Mexico, New Orleans, Quebec City, Las Vegas, Vancouver Island, London England and multiple trips back to Germany and Europe in general. Over the years, dad was involved with the German Canadian Harmony Club, Lion’s Club, Loyal Order of Moose, Elks Club, Housing and Urban Development Association of Canada (HUDAC), Alberta New Home Warranty Program, Strathcona Centre, Veiner Centre, Singles Night Out and Cowboy Country Church. Following his retirement, besides time with family, he continued to travel extensively in the United States, attended local musical events, played shuffleboard and Mexican Train Dominos, and met regularly with friends for coffee at Co-op, lunch at Perkins or dinner at Trukker’s Restaurant in Redcliff. Dad also continued to attend dances for as long as he possibly could. Dad maintained many close friendships over the years, some dating all the way back to his school years, namely Alfred, Peter, Karlheintz and Irma, Gunther and Heike. He was known to be generous, had a big heart and was eager to unconditionally help others. Dad would want us to also acknowledge his long-term Medicine Hat friends; Doug and Mavis, Ray and Joan and Henry and Karen, who cared about him to the end. Our father had unique relationships with each of us kids, and encouraged us all to be honest and independent, with integrity and a strong work ethic. He would tell us he loved us all the same. At every opportunity he would tell others how proud he was of all his children and grandchildren. Near his last day, he whispered that he loved us all and didn’t want us to be sad, that he had lived a good life. We, dad’s children will forever miss hearing him say “this is your daddy calling”.
A special thank you to staff and caregivers at Meadowlands Retirement Residence and Masterpiece Southland Meadows.
You are invited to the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME on Saturday April 30th beginning at 12 noon for a time of fellowship with his family. The funeral service will being at 12:30 p.m. in the PATTISON CHAPEL with Life Celebrant David Townsend. A private family interment service will follow at Hillside Cemetery. To e-mail an expression of sympathy, please direct it to: office@pattisonfuneralhome.com subject heading: Winfried Riechelmann.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Winfried Riechelmann August 21 1936 February 19 2022 Age 85..
Death notice for the town of: Medicine Hat, Province: Alberta