November 28, 1928 – November 18, 2022
In loving memory ~
Erwin Fredrich, a Cedar B.C. resident for 56 years, quietly passed away on November 18th, 2022 at Nanaimo Seniors Village at age 93.
Erwin was born on November 28th, 1928 in a German community in Bessarabia (now Moldova), the eldest son of Lydia and Israel. Erwin leaves eight siblings; Erna – Calgary, Theo (Margaret) – Cedar, Alwin (Gerda) – Kelowna, Frieda – Nanaimo, Siegfried – Nanaimo, Erika – Nanaimo, Hilda – Lethbridge and Heinz (Milie) – Calgary as well as 18 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father in 1959 and his mother in 1983.
Erwin had a long hard life. Born in Bessarabia he and his family were relocated to Germany in 1940 where the family lived in three different refugee camps until January 1945. As the Russian forces advanced further west the family was once again relocated, this time to Northern Germany where they lived until their immigration to a farming community in Southern Alberta in 1955.
Erwin was conscripted to the German Military in August of 1944 at the age of 15, was captured at the Russian front at age 16 and held as an American prisoner of war until his release to the Red Cross and subsequently reunited with his family.
In 1966 Erwin and brother Theo purchased a property in Cedar where they lived with their mother until she moved into Nanaimo. Fredrich’s Honey business was started on this property; the business continues to operate under that name although it is now under new ownership.
During the early years in Cedar, Erwin made many friends through his involvement in the German Club and in the Beekeepers Association. Once Erwin retired, he enjoyed his little hobby farm, particularly raising rabbits, chickens, sharing his gift of grafting fruit trees and , of course, dancing. He would attend the weekly Bowen Park Seniors Dance until he could no longer drive Erwin continued to live in the house purchased in 1966 until his admission to Nanaimo Senior Village.
Erwin married late in life; there were no children. Since Erwin had many nieces and nephews there were often young members of his extended family visiting on the property until his decline and subsequent admission to Nanaimo Seniors Village in July 2022.
Obituary