Obituary for Hubert Kesterke
Hubert Kesterke
With his family by his side, our father, aged 87, took his last breath ad passed away peacefully in the early afternoon on February 15, 2021, at the Grace Hospital. Hubert is survived by his wife Ingrid, daughter Judy, daughter-in-law Elenore, grandchildren Brendan and Kaden. He is pre-deceased by his son Egon.
Hubert was born on March 26, 1933 in Friedrichsbruch, Poland. He was the middle of three children born to Eduard and Ottilie Kesterke. The war years were hard on the family. They were displaced and Hubert along with his younger brother and mother spent two years in a refuge camp. At the end of the war Eduard ended up in West Germany where he inquired into the where-abouts of his family. Shortly thereafter they were reunited. Hubert worked as a farm hand in West Germany until immigrating to Canada in 1953. He learned a lot about building and reparation which would serve him well in Canada.
The first months in Canada were an adjustment. He managed to find permanent employment as a furrier for Reiss Fur. In 1955 he was able to assist with the immigration of his parents and brother. On November 16, 1957 he married his wife Ingrid. In 1970 he left the fur business and worked as a caretaker in maintenance for the University of Manitoba. This was by far his favorite job.
In March 1993 at the age of 60 he retired from the University. He always regretted this decision and said, “he should not have retired so early”. He did some travelling but his best times were spent with his children and grandchildren. He attended many of Kaden and Brendan’s golf and hockey tournaments.
Dad loved life no matter what it dealt him.
He would always say “look forward never backward. It is a waste of time”.
Thank you to the staff at Victoria Hospital Cancer Care for their kindness and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba.
With his family by his side, our father, aged 87, took his last breath ad passed away peacefully in the early afternoon on February 15, 2021, at the Grace Hospital. Hubert is survived by his wife Ingrid, daughter Judy, daughter-in-law Elenore, grandchildren Brendan and Kaden. He is pre-deceased by his son Egon.
Hubert was born on March 26, 1933 in Friedrichsbruch, Poland. He was the middle of three children born to Eduard and Ottilie Kesterke. The war years were hard on the family. They were displaced and Hubert along with his younger brother and mother spent two years in a refuge camp. At the end of the war Eduard ended up in West Germany where he inquired into the where-abouts of his family. Shortly thereafter they were reunited. Hubert worked as a farm hand in West Germany until immigrating to Canada in 1953. He learned a lot about building and reparation which would serve him well in Canada.
The first months in Canada were an adjustment. He managed to find permanent employment as a furrier for Reiss Fur. In 1955 he was able to assist with the immigration of his parents and brother. On November 16, 1957 he married his wife Ingrid. In 1970 he left the fur business and worked as a caretaker in maintenance for the University of Manitoba. This was by far his favorite job.
In March 1993 at the age of 60 he retired from the University. He always regretted this decision and said, “he should not have retired so early”. He did some travelling but his best times were spent with his children and grandchildren. He attended many of Kaden and Brendan’s golf and hockey tournaments.
Dad loved life no matter what it dealt him.
He would always say “look forward never backward. It is a waste of time”.
Thank you to the staff at Victoria Hospital Cancer Care for their kindness and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba.