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“Everybody’s Opa”
Josef Kratschmar passed away peacefully on December 15, 2024 at the Health Sciences Centre at the age of 92 years.
Josef is predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Stefanie Kaufman, parents Hieronymus and Maria Kratschmar, brothers Franz, Hieronymus, and Johann, as well as sisters Maria and Anna.
He will be remembered by daughter Darlene (Hannes), sons Ronald (Lori) and Kenneth (Tania) and grandchildren Andrea, Jorden (Alyssa), Liam, and Aidan, as well as great grandchildren Elizabeth and Sarah.
Dad was born as the youngest of six siblings on February 16, 1932 in Untertannowitz, Czechoslovakia. His family was removed from their home and sent to Germany following the end of World War II. They later settled in a refugee camp in Linz, Austria, where he met his future wife, Stefanie, at a dance. A spontaneous decision by Stefanie to apply to immigrate to Canada after Josef left a pamphlet on the kitchen table was the unexpected start to what would become their new life in Winnipeg. They arrived in Canada in May 1954 and married four months later in St Josef’s Church.
Initially, Dad and Mom did not plan to stay long-term in Canada, instead hoping to save enough to move back to Austria and raise a family. Although initially trained as an electrician, once in Canada, Dad got a job at Bell Refrigerator and became a refrigeration technician. His knowledge of German allowed him to provide services to Manitoba’s Hutterite colonies—a relationship that grew beyond work, that became a source of community for our family, and that continued until the end of Dad’s life.
On October 1, 1960, Mom and Dad took a one-way flight back to Austria, only to quickly realize that they had changed and Winnipeg was now, in fact, home. Daughter Darlene was born soon after their return to Canada. They bought a home on Borebank Street in River Heights using the nest egg they had built up through their hard work. And they grew their family there, adding sons Ron and Ken in September 1962 and May 1967, respectively.
In 1974, Dad set out on his own and started K-mar Refrigeration—channeling hard work and enthusiastic customer service to earn the respect within the industry that K-mar retains to this day. Through his business he also expanded the communities he served and developed lasting bonds with, applying a ‘take your kids to work’ philosophy that was controversial with his kids at the time, but which cemented K-mar as a family business. Ron joined the company as an apprentice and eventually graduated to running the day-to-day operations. Ultimately, Dad loved his work and the purpose and people it surrounded him with, and it was a source of joy for him until the end.
Dad’s other passions were hunting and fishing, and few subjects garnered more attention than his annual November hunting trip. He would go out “scouting” for deer near the Stewart farm in Poplar Point in the weeks leading up to hunting season. Kurt, his first hunting partner, also spent many nights in Duck Mountain, as did friend Adolf for Dad’s story-filled hunting trips to Hidden Valley Colony. Dad’s enthusiasm for hunting proved contagious, eventually prompting grandson Jorden to join him too.
Fishing offered Dad a more year-round activity at the cottage that the family bought on Dorothy Lake in 1977. His daughter Darlene shared this passion the most, and they spent hours together waiting for a keeper. Years later, Dad would even jokingly chastise granddaughter Andrea if she didn’t time her travel back to Winnipeg to fish with him during goldeye season.
While K-mar occupied his attention during the week, the cottage took over Dad’s weekends. He loved the cottage and lit up when he had visitors, taking them on boat tours, water skiing, or fishing. In the evenings, he loved gathering friends and family for large communal meals, telling stories with a twinkle in his eye and a handful of jokes thrown in, and playing cribbage late into the night.
Throughout all of these experiences and his wonderfully full life, Dad was always unrelentingly kind. He treated everyone like family, and so many people have come to be an important and cherished part of ours because of it.
We would like to thank all the dear friends who came to visit Dad during his illness and to the staff at HSC for their compassionate care.
A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 4588 Roblin Blvd, Winnipeg on Monday, December 30, 2024 at 11:00 am. Reception and refreshments will be available after the Service in the Parish hall. Msgr. Maurice Comeault officiating.
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December 15 2024
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba
death notice Josef Kratschmar December 15 2024
obituaries notice Josef Kratschmar December 15 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Josef Kratschmar December 15 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
