Obituary
Ike Baerg was born on April 26, 1930 to Johann and Susannah Baerg in Manson, Manitoba. He met the love of his life, Margaret Braun, in Regina, Saskatchewan where they were both singing in the Church Choir. They were married on May 5, 1956 in Hepburn Saskatchewan. He was devoted to Marg for 66 years of marriage.
Ike graduated from Winkler Collegiate Institute in 1949 and went on to complete his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Manitoba in 1953. His yearbook suggests he was going to go into a career in Education but his love for math and physics took him a different direction. He entered the Meteorological Service, formally referred to as the Department of Transport, which became Environment Canada in 1954. His family remembers how much he loved his work and at the age of 62 years, in 1992, he retired with 38 years of service.
Ike joined the Gideons in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory in January 1962 and was a committed member up until his death. He took his children and grandchildren to many summer Gideon conferences across Canada and created wonderful memories with his family. His faith, his family and his church were very important to Ike. He did not like missing church and the Sunday before he passed away, he watched church online from his hospital bed along with Margaret, and his grandchildren, Andrew and Susie.
Family was very important to Ike. In spite of coming from a family of 12 children who settled across Western Canada and in the United States, he made sure to participate in family reunions and keep in touch with his siblings and their offspring. He also ensured Margaret stayed connected to her siblings and their children. He drove long distances to make these connections and tried not to miss any important events in his grandchildren’s lives and the extended family.
Ike loved the outdoors and he was an athlete. He played soccer in high school and we loved watching him play baseball in a Men’s League in Vancouver. He could still out throw and out catch his children and grandchildren when we played scrub when he was in his 80’s. He took the family on many camping and hiking vacations in BC, Alberta, the Yukon and Alaska. He knew his birds, loved nature, was fascinated by weather, and exemplified a lifelong love of learning.
Isaac was welcomed into the arms of Jesus the morning of October 20, 2022 at the age of 92 years.
He is mourned and lovingly missed by his wife, Margaret; children, Sandra (Herb) Pond and Richard (Cindy) Baerg; grandchildren, Jordan, Brandon (Abby), Mikaela (James), Andrew (Susan), Ben (Shanelle), Hayley and Isabella; great-grandchildren, Franklin, Indiana, Ryan, Tyler, Theodore, Eden, Esther and Ethan; siblings, David (Justine) and Susan Unruh; sisters-in-law, Norma, Clara, and Dot.
He was predeceased by his parents; his siblings, Anne, John, Jake (Mary), Peter, William (Helen/Marge), George (Kay), Helen (Al), Neil (Fran), and Ben; 4 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law.
A Celebration of Ike’s Life will be held on Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 p.m. at Penticton Alliance Church.
In lieu of other tributes, donations in Ike’s memory would be welcomed to ShareWord (previously Gideons) at sharewordglobal.com/ca.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Isaac Henry Baerg April 26 1930 October 20 2022 (age 92)..
Death notice for the town of: Penticton, Province: Colombie britanique