Obituary for Artur Laser
ARTUR LASER
February 13, 1925 - December 12, 2022
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Artur Laser on December 12, 2022 at the age of 97 years.
He is survived by sisters-in-law Vera Laser and Raissa Maslova, his nieces and nephews Sergej Maslov, Gerda Bavasah, Erhard Duesterdiek, Karl (Joan) Duesterdiek, Heather (Robert Rowan) Laser, Ralph Laser, Linda (Jovan) Latisnere, Rita (Tom) Cubric, Martin (Alison) Boettcher, Karin Boettcher-Hawkins, Ingrid (Karl) Korporal and John Macloskie.
He was predeceased by his wife of 73 years Lena; his five siblings, Erhard, Alice (Werner) Duesterdiek, Lea (Otto) Boettcher, Ewald (Ruth) Laser and Alfred (Vera) Laser and one niece Karen Macloskie.
Artur was born in the village of Sorochin, Zhitomir District in the Soviet Union to Christian parents Ida and Daniel Laser. In 1933 famine forced Artur’s family to move to southern Ukraine to the village of Tigerweide in the district of Zaporozhye. There they moved in with relatives and worked on a collective farm.
In 1941 war broke out between Germany and Russia. 16-year-old Artur was conscripted into the Russian “Workers’ Army” and sent to live in a concentration camp in the city of Solikamsk. Under harsh conditions he was forced to labour on various construction projects for the Russians. In 1946 the Workers’ Army was disbanded and those who had survived were ordered to remain in Solikamsk. Artur was assigned to a pulp and paper factory where he worked as a machine mechanic. It was there that he met Lena Lieder and the couple was married in 1948.
In 1953, despite heavy government sponsored persecution of Christians, Artur accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal saviour and was baptized two years later. Fifteen years after being separated from his mother and siblings, Artur was finally able to reconnect with them in 1956. By this time, they were living in Winnipeg. In 1965 following the death of his father Daniel Laser, mother Ida Laser applied to sponsor Artur and Lena to join them in Canada. In 1973, after several attempts, they were successful.
With the support of his family Artur and Lena soon found employment. Artur worked as a mechanic in a manufacturing plant. It wasn’t long before they were able to purchase a home on Muriel Street in St. James. Artur was an avid gardener and kept an immaculate yard. He especially enjoyed cultivating a number of grape vines up the side of his garden shed. Artur and Lena were a very private couple and managed well with limited English. They never owned a car and either walked, bussed or took a taxi to work, shopping, appointments and church. Artur was a member and faithful attender of Mission Baptist Church. Christmas Eve always meant getting together at his brother Ewald’s home for a traditional feast, gift exchange and reminiscing.
The couple lived on Muriel Street well into their 80s. From there they moved into the Meadowood Manor. In 2020, with increasing health concerns, they moved into the Poseidon Long Term Care Home. Lena passed away there in November 2021.
The family would like to thank the staff of Poseidon Care Centre fourth floor for the patient and compassionate care they gave Artur. Their personal attention was very much appreciated.
The funeral will be held at Friends Funeral Service at 2146 Main Street, Winnipeg on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with reception following. Interment at Brookside Cemetery.
Funeral service will be livestreamed, and available at: https://fweb.tv/92081
February 13, 1925 - December 12, 2022
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Artur Laser on December 12, 2022 at the age of 97 years.
He is survived by sisters-in-law Vera Laser and Raissa Maslova, his nieces and nephews Sergej Maslov, Gerda Bavasah, Erhard Duesterdiek, Karl (Joan) Duesterdiek, Heather (Robert Rowan) Laser, Ralph Laser, Linda (Jovan) Latisnere, Rita (Tom) Cubric, Martin (Alison) Boettcher, Karin Boettcher-Hawkins, Ingrid (Karl) Korporal and John Macloskie.
He was predeceased by his wife of 73 years Lena; his five siblings, Erhard, Alice (Werner) Duesterdiek, Lea (Otto) Boettcher, Ewald (Ruth) Laser and Alfred (Vera) Laser and one niece Karen Macloskie.
Artur was born in the village of Sorochin, Zhitomir District in the Soviet Union to Christian parents Ida and Daniel Laser. In 1933 famine forced Artur’s family to move to southern Ukraine to the village of Tigerweide in the district of Zaporozhye. There they moved in with relatives and worked on a collective farm.
In 1941 war broke out between Germany and Russia. 16-year-old Artur was conscripted into the Russian “Workers’ Army” and sent to live in a concentration camp in the city of Solikamsk. Under harsh conditions he was forced to labour on various construction projects for the Russians. In 1946 the Workers’ Army was disbanded and those who had survived were ordered to remain in Solikamsk. Artur was assigned to a pulp and paper factory where he worked as a machine mechanic. It was there that he met Lena Lieder and the couple was married in 1948.
In 1953, despite heavy government sponsored persecution of Christians, Artur accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal saviour and was baptized two years later. Fifteen years after being separated from his mother and siblings, Artur was finally able to reconnect with them in 1956. By this time, they were living in Winnipeg. In 1965 following the death of his father Daniel Laser, mother Ida Laser applied to sponsor Artur and Lena to join them in Canada. In 1973, after several attempts, they were successful.
With the support of his family Artur and Lena soon found employment. Artur worked as a mechanic in a manufacturing plant. It wasn’t long before they were able to purchase a home on Muriel Street in St. James. Artur was an avid gardener and kept an immaculate yard. He especially enjoyed cultivating a number of grape vines up the side of his garden shed. Artur and Lena were a very private couple and managed well with limited English. They never owned a car and either walked, bussed or took a taxi to work, shopping, appointments and church. Artur was a member and faithful attender of Mission Baptist Church. Christmas Eve always meant getting together at his brother Ewald’s home for a traditional feast, gift exchange and reminiscing.
The couple lived on Muriel Street well into their 80s. From there they moved into the Meadowood Manor. In 2020, with increasing health concerns, they moved into the Poseidon Long Term Care Home. Lena passed away there in November 2021.
The family would like to thank the staff of Poseidon Care Centre fourth floor for the patient and compassionate care they gave Artur. Their personal attention was very much appreciated.
The funeral will be held at Friends Funeral Service at 2146 Main Street, Winnipeg on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with reception following. Interment at Brookside Cemetery.
Funeral service will be livestreamed, and available at: https://fweb.tv/92081