Obituary of Gunter Weiner

Gunter Heinz Weiner (December 20, 1927 – July 31, 2016)With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Gunter Weiner – devoted husband, loving father, doting grandfather, and faithful friend. Born in Hirschberg, Germany (now Jelenia Gora, Poland), in December of 1927, he was the precocious and much loved son of Richard (deceased) and Frieda (deceased) Weiner and elder brother to Margot (Friedel) Heuer (deceased) and Ruth (Gerhardt – deceased) Heuer. Having lost both his parents in WW2, a young man amidst the chaos that was Germany following the war, Gunter made his way to Neustadt, Germany where he met and eventually won the love of his life-long partner and beautiful best friend, Helma. Together, they decided to start a new life in a new world. Gunter made his way to Saskatoon, Canada in 1953, with Helma following him in 1954 to become his wife. After pursuing many kinds of jobs to support his growing family, and assisted by good fortune and friends, Gunter found his way to the University of Saskatchewan, receiving his BA magna cum laude in 1963 and his teaching certificate in 1964. In the fall of that year, he and his family moved to Swift Current, SK where he began his teaching career at O.M.Irwin Collegiate. During his 24 years in front of the chalkboard, Gunter taught German and the Sciences. He was also involved in many of the extracurricular activities. One of his greatest accomplishments was co-ordinating a summer trip for his German students, guiding them through his homeland in 1974, 77, and 80. Through his passion for teaching, he touched the lives of hundreds of students. Teaching was Gunter’s joy and he always said that he felt lucky to have been able to do what he loved as a career. He remembered all his students and was deeply touched when they remembered him as well. Because Gunter was part of teaching staffs at both Irwin and then at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School, Gunter and Helma found themselves a part of an extended family and a supportive community with other teachers and their families. These more-than-friends have remained an important part of Gunter and Helma’s life to this day. With a singular charm and wit, at times stubbornly curmudgeonly, Gunter was a passionate intellectual, constantly seeking answers and knowledge. He was always up for a healthy and respectful debate on most any topic and was well prepared to engage in political discussions of any kind. He was propelled by his inquisitive nature and strong sense of wanderlust to constantly seek new frontiers, literally and figuratively. Husband, father, grandfather and friend – scholar and teacher; music FANatic (“what would this world be without music?”) and CBC supporter … Opera, Classical, Big Band, and Jazz/Satchmo devotee; historian linguist and wordsmith; debater and storyteller; KILLER card player (designated National Master Bridge Player) and charades master; animal lover and K9-walker; fishing enthusiast and connoisseur of fine spirits and seafood; soccer player and swimmer; volunteer and barbershop singer; photographer and archivist; terrible joke-maker and impish punster; dismal handyman and exquisite stained glass artist – Gunter had a passion for “this wonderful world.” He came through adversity, war and loss, crossing an ocean to build a new and rich life with his family in his much beloved adopted home on the Prairies, always a true German at heart and a loyal Canadian by choice. Gunter is survived and mourned by his beloved wife, Helma, of 62 years; his sister Ruth Heuer (in Germany); his son Richard and his partner Cheryl Yates (Rachelle); his daughter Elizabeth (Dave) Cameron; his daughter Margot and her husband Don Ewles: his daughter Ruth and her husband Mark Thoreson; and his granddaughters Michelle (Jerid) Clarke, Kimberley (Emersen) Ziffle (Harper), and Amanda Thoreson. He will be missed by his relatives and childhood friends in Germany, and by the many life-long and dear friends who form our extended family here in Canada. At Gunter’s request, there will be no funeral service. A memorial get together for family and friends is planned for mid-September. Until then, it would please him to know that, alone or in company, those who knew him would raise a glass and remember him with joy. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gunter’s memory may be sent to the Swift Current SPCA (www.spcaswiftcurrent.com) and/or to the Southwest Youth Emergency Shelter Inc – Dorie’s House (box 103, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X3). Arrangements were in care of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home – Ryan Cappelle