ADAM BETTCHER

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ADAM BETTCHER Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend peacefully went to be with the Lord on Friday, November 3, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. at Oakview Place Personal Care Home. Adam was born on September 18, 1919 in Sergejufka (Sierhiejówka), Poland (now Ukraine) to Rudolf and Karoline Bettcher (Lehmann). As a boy he worked for his father and on the Eisbrenner family farm, as well as for a local veterinarian as his assistant and chauffeur. In 1940 he was conscripted for military service in the Second World War, was captured in May 1945, and held as a Russian POW until December 1947. When he was released he fled to West Germany, and was providentially reunited with his family in the town of Uppen in Hildesheim. In March 1948 he married Else Pahl, whom he had known since childhood. They welcomed two children, Edeltraut (Edie) in 1949 and Berthold (Bert) in 1950. Following Adam's brothers, the family immigrated to Canada in 1953, first to southern Alberta, and finally to Winnipeg. Intelligent and skilled in construction and maintenance, Adam was employed at St. John's Ravenscourt School and later at the University of Manitoba in the Physical Plant and Maintenance Department. He greatly enjoyed his work and was much appreciated until his retirement in 1987. He was good natured and funny, and his retirement was full of storytelling, chatting with friends, and teasing his family at frequent gatherings in his home. In addition to being a devoted father and grandfather, Adam and his family were faithful and active members of McDermot Avenue Baptist Church. His yard was his pride and joy, admired by neighbours and passers-by. "Opa" will be lovingly remembered, especially by his wife Else; brother Alex (Lydia); sister-in-law Loni; son Bert (Jeanie); son-in-law Jack Mourre; nephew Helmut Sass; niece Erika Konitz; grandchildren Michelle (Yuri Hooker) Mourre and Sean Mourre; great-grandchildren Elly and Ari Hooker; and close friend Karl Eisbrenner. He was sadly predeceased by his daughter Edie Mourre (wife of Jack) in 2007. The family would like to thank the staff at Oakview Place, who have faithfully cared for Adam with grace, dignity and good humour since 2010. A public viewing will be held at 10:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at McDermot Avenue Baptist Church, 821 McDermot Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakview Place Extendicare (Bladder Scanner Fundraising Drive). For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 204-885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 10, 2017