April 6, 2022
That those who knew him may share our mourning, we sadly announce that on 06 April 2022, Walther Kloeckner passed away peacefully in his home. At four days shy of his 89th birthday, his life was long, fulfilled, and punctuated with adventure. This is a testament to his force of will, wisdom, God's grace, and the steadfast support of his wife Dorothea, whom he is survived by, along with his daughters Marianne and Johanna, and his grand- and great-grandchildren.
As a youth in post-war Germany, Walther was a frontiersman without a frontier. During childhood his family lived for a few years in Kenya, leaving an indelible mark on his soul and destining him for something wilder than he could find in Western Europe. At the age of 23 he immigrated to Canada, and in keeping with his passion for sailing (a hobby for him and his brother) he found work as a shipwright, first in Vancouver and then in Prince Rupert; in the wild beauty of the West, he had found his frontier.
Walther was a born romantic, and the self-image that animated him was that of a cowboy. Building ships was good money, but he was aching to work his own land and settle down, so he moved inland. While working as a carpenter and ranch hand, he met and married his wife. Soon after, he purchased a piece of land near Boulder Creek, and began the independent life of freedom he had long dreamed of. Independence comes with risks, however, and though love and hard work were abundant, sometimes were tough. Walther supplemented his farm's income utilizing his many talents: as contractor, mowing highways with his tractor, foreman at Stege's sawmill and freelance carpenter building log houses and cabinets, to name a few. Though he may not have been quite the masterless cowboy he imagined, he took pride in his work and made many lifelong friendships with his firm, sincere and generous nature. His love of books and ideas ensured every bookshelf and brain in his house was overflowing and resulting in a limitless assortment of projects in various stages of completion.
With the grounding and determined support from Dorothea, the way Walther lived in accordance with his dreams, morals and faith was realized in the farm they built and the family they raised. Three generations will remember him as a pillar of his family and beloved member of his community, full of humour, dedication, wisdom, faith, and love.
Walther, Dad, Opa, you will be sorely missed.
Condolences for the Kloeckner family may be offered at www.schraderfuneralhome.ca.
Schrader Funeral Home