GISELA RUTH FOERSTER (VOLKNER) 1937-2013

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GISELA RUTH FOERSTER (nee VOLKNER) 1937-2013 On the third of October, at 7:00 p.m., Gisela slipped out of the loving embrace of her family into the beckoning arms of her Lord and Master, whom she had loved and served for over 60 years. She was born in the once beautiful city of Königsberg, capital of East Prussia in Germany. In early 1945, during a bitterly cold winter, the area was overrun by the Soviet army and the atrocities the family experienced during that time left indelible scars on Gisela and other members of the family that persisted for the rest of their lives. Eventually the family was able to flee across the border into West Germany and found refuge in the city of Hannover, where Gisela attended public as well as commercial schools. In 1957, at the age of 19, she came to Canada in order to perfect her fragmentary knowledge of English and settled in Winnipeg, where she attended McDermot Avenue Baptist Church and where she and John, a young medical student, fell in love with each other, a love they shared for some 55 years. They were married on May 27, 1961, two days after John's graduation. Gisela supported John faithfully during three years of internship, residency and research in Winnipeg, followed by five years of studies at the University of Utah and New York University. They returned to Winnipeg in 1969 where John pursued a career in academic Medicine, while Gisela took charge of establishing a home for her family of five, which she did with enthusiasm and much love. Her excellent taste and emphasis on excellence created a home environment that the entire family continues to enjoy. In church Gisela participated in Bible studies and took charge of all manner of decorations, especially for special occasions such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. She was loved not only by her children and their spouses, but especially by her eight grandchildren, undoubtedly because they sensed her deep and unconditional love for them, her generosity and concern for their welfare, and their education, especially that of the girls she considered herself a closet feminist'- and supported and enjoyed the initiatives of her girls with pride the boys were of course never neglected in this process. Gisela's principles of living had deep Christian roots love, respect for others, financial integrity and an unmitigated commitment to the truth. Unfortunately she had to suffer through many illnesses, including depression. During the past 18 months she had to undergo four major operations and developed an aggressive form of colon cancer which ultimately took her life. She bore all illnesses with unbelievable courage, and gratitude to the physicians and nurses who cared for her, including Drs. Fontigny, Verrelli, Freed, Hochman, S. Anderson, MacDonald and the entire Palliative Care Team, especially nurses Jadwiga and Chris, as well as Jackie, her daughter in-law who quit her job in Red Deer in order to care for Gisela during her illness. Gisela has also received loving support from Pastor Brian Russell and his family. Gisela died peacefully on October the third while being cradled in the arms of family. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Gisela is survived by her husband John, her three children and their spouses, David and Juanita, Steven and Jackie, Susan and Edward Wang, as well as their respective children: Ryan, Alexa and Dawson; Julie, Evan and Nicole; Joshua and Matthew. She also leaves to mourn three sisters and one brother in Germany: Irmgard and Helmut Stock; Brigitte and Gerd Gassl; and Hannelore Reinhold and Herbert Lustig; and Jurgen, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. In Canada she is mourned deeply by Charles and Anne Kunze, John's sister and brother-in-law and their families; sister-in-law Gladys Maringer, her sons Fred and Dennis and their families; cousin Kurt Grube, his wife Edith and their family; the Poschwatta family, and many friends at McDermot Avenue Baptist Church and throughout Canada and the United States. Their loving support during this difficult time is deeply appreciated. She was preceded in death by her parents, two nephews, one niece and several cousins. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at McDermot Avenue Baptist Church, 821 McDermot Ave. Interment will follow in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. For those who wish to honor Gisela with a charitable donation, donations may be made to: McDermot Avenue Baptist Church Reconstruction Fund, or The St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, The Foerster Family Research Endowment Fund, or The Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation, or a Charity of your choice. Addressed envelopes will be available at the church.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 10, 2013