ELISABETH VIKTORIA KREMPIN

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ELISABETH VIKTORIA KREMPIN Peacefully, with her family by her side, it is with great sadness to announce that our mom and grandmother, Elisabeth Viktoria Krempin, suddenly passed away on December 17, 2011, at 88 years of age at the Grace General Hospital. She will be terribly missed by her son and daughter-in-law, Werner and Frances Krempin and her grandson Kevin. She is also survived by her granddaughters, Raquelle Lafond (Dan), Britt Krempin (Garry), Lana Ochman (Darcy) and her great-granddaughters, Bridget, Brandy, Avery and Arielle. Elisabeth has many nieces and nephews in Germany who will also miss her, together with her extended family in Winnipeg. Elisabeth was born March 24, 1923, in Cologne, Germany. Life was not easy for Elisabeth and at 11 years of age her parents became sick with Tuberculosis. Concerned that the children would contract the disease, Elisabeth and her sisters were taken from their parents and placed in a Government orphanage. At the age of 13, Elisabeth's parents passed away and Maria and Elisabeth were placed in foster care and Gertrude was placed in a catholic orphanage. When Elisabeth grew up she decided to find her father's family and with her girlfriend in tow, she travelled to northern Germany to visit her Aunt Rose. The local fair was on when they arrived and that was the place to be to meet the young men and girls of the town. Henry spotted Elisabeth and the rest is history. It was the Second World War and the future was unknown so before going back to duty, Henry and Elisabeth became husband and wife. Elisabeth's dream had come true, she had her own family and her own home and they were starting their own family. When Henry went back to duty Elisabeth decided to travel to Northern Germany to be with Henry's family and to give birth to their son. The war finally came to an end, but not for Elisabeth. The Russians advanced into northern Germany and people ran to get to the south of Germany. Elisabeth and Werner were caught and placed on a cattle car and moved to the basement of a building. Elisabeth was determined that her son was going to live and that her husband was going to see his son, and with her stubbornness and faith, grabbed her child and with the little sugar and water she had, placed her baby in a small carriage she owned and ran. With determination, gumption and stubbornness, Elisabeth got through many dangerous situations, where she would have been killed had they been caught and eventually made it into the allies' zone. She was safe and her son was safe, now she had to find Henry. She had no food or a place to stay, but being Elisabeth, she made a home for her and her son. The war was now over for her also and with the help of the Red Cross she sent Henry a note that she was alive and their son was alive. Henry determined to see his family managed to escape from the Russian prison camp he was in and made his way to Germany. Elisabeth's prayers were answered - they were together again to build a life in a broken country. Henry had relatives in Canada and in 1951, he told Elisabeth it was time to move to Canada for new opportunities. Germany was her home and Canada was a long ways away. Elisabeth did not want to go, however, they boarded the ship in Germany and began their adventure to their new life to Canada in winter. Life was not easy for new immigrants but they both found work, made a home for themselves, and a place where their friends could come and enjoy good times. They became members of the German Society of Winnipeg where they met many long time good friends. Elisabeth loved to dance and every Friday night you would see Elisabeth and Henry dancing across the dance floor at the German Club. Henry and Elisabeth liked fishing; so many weekends was spent camping with their friends, Nat and Erna. Leaving early in the morning and driving for hours to reach that weekend fishing hole, which once again would add to the many fishing stories. However, after time, they decided to become less nomad and have a place to go on weekends, so Wendigo, located on Lac du Bonnet, became their weekend retreat. Many summers were spent at the lake and everyone was welcome. Wonderful times were enjoyed at Wendigo either at Mom's place or her son Werner's place. Boating, skiing, fishing and eating, and Mom was always there to make sure everyone was looked after. Everyone has wonderful stories to tell, and fond memories of Elisabeth, especially all the kids staying at the cottage who would go and visit her as she always had treats and would spend time playing and listening to them. The other wonderful vacation time she enjoyed was Hawaii. Henry took Elisabeth there for their 25th anniversary and she was hooked. After Henry retired, their winters were spent in Hawaii, their summers at the lake and in between a few visits to Germany to see family. After Dad passed away, Mom travelled to Mexico with us and the Ward family. She enjoyed the adventures, the beaches, the sun and most of all, her time with her grandson. Elisabeth became a big part of her daughters-in-law family and was always there to enjoy the good times. The sudden passing of Elisabeth leaves a profound loss to many hearts into which she filled a place both great and small. Mom was predeceased by her loving husband of 52 years, Henry; her parents, Johannes and Martha Krempin; her older sister, Maria; and her younger sister, Gertrude; her brother-in-law, Karl; her nieces, Heidi. Lucy and her husband Max; her sisters-in-law, Hilda, Otti and Edith; her brothers-in-law, August, Adolph, Karl, Ewald, and Otto. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 30, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Mary Mother of the Church, 85 Kirkbridge Drive, Winnipeg, MB. Father Kevin will be residing at the Mass. There will be a luncheon in the Parish Hall. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens after the reception. We wish to thank the Intensive Care Unit at the Grace Hospital for all their support and compassion at this very difficult time. Elisabeth was patient, kind, loving and was an inspiration to all of her family. Mom's love, support and generosity will be greatly missed. Rest in peace and we are sure you are happy being with Dad and we know you will be watching over us. We love you Mom; We love you Grandma. Glen Eden Funeral Home 338-7111 www.gleneden-mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 24, 2011