PETER HOCHHEIM

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

PETER HOCHHEIM April 25, 1925 - April 6, 2016 Hans Joachim Peter Hochheim, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on the morning of Wednesday, April 6, 2016. He was born April 25, 1925 in Goehrendorf, Germany, to Friedrich and Margarete Hochheim. He grew up on his parents' farm estate and had his Confirmation at the age of 15, in his village Church. Peter managed to survive the horrors of the Second World War only to see his family's estate expropriated by the Stalinist regime in East Germany. His father was arrested and died shortly after in Russian captivity in Torgau, Germany. Peter and his mother had to flee to Halle/Saale. As a farm apprentice he enrolled in Agriculture School, where he met his future wife Hannelore Kompe. Their courtship lasted four years. In December 1951, they were engaged. Two weeks later, as an affront to the communist regime Peter chose December 21, Stalin's birthday, to make his escape to the West. He knew the border guards and, in their ensuing alcoholic haze of celebration, would render the border less guarded. Peter always commemorated that day as his "Liberation Day". Hannelore got out of the East a year later over Berlin. A conductor friend of hers, stowed her in the Postal carriage of the train to avoid the border control. Once united in the West they married on December 31st, 1952 in Leese, Germany. Peter and Hannelore having both lost their property and their future to the East German regime decided to start a new life in Canada. Peter and Hannelore were blessed with three boys, Frieder, Klaus and Volker. Peter became a lithographer and Hannelore became the beloved Kindergarten teacher, Tante Lore at the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church. She taught there for 30 years. Peter and Lore became members of the NKMB church in 1976, and were baptized by Pastor William Neufeld. In 2003, they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. Looking back at his life, Peter said: "In our life, I can easily recognize the leading hand of the Lord. Every time we thought we were at an end, the Lord gave us His Hand and He pulled us up." Peter and Hannelore were blessed with three sons; three grandsons; four granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. Nineteen days short of his 91st birthday, Peter suffered a brain aneurysm after his daily one kilometer swim. He came into this world in his birthday suit and departed in his swimsuit. As an avid swimmer, he would see the irony in this. He will be dearly missed. The memorial service will be held on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, 1315 Gateway Road, Winnipeg, MB. An Ash Interment will take place at a later date. Arrangements by BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL 1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 18, 2016