March 2, 1928 - October 10, 2021
Dad moved into hospice knowing he had only 1 more appointment to keep. So, it is with heavy hearts and loving memories, we announce that on October 10, 2021, that final appointment was met by our dear Husband, Dad, Papa, and Opa, when he entered the gates of his heavenly home.
Dad, the 2nd oldest of 12 siblings, was born on March 2, 1928, at the family farm near Swalwell, AB to Edward and Margaret (Schmautz) Ehrmann. The family spoke German at home and English was taught to them at school. After his rudimentary school years, he went to work for local farmers. In March of 1951, he and a buddy ended up in Medicine Hat. They walked into a recruiting office and Dad came out enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. His first 2 years in the RCAF were spent in Canada where he trained as a fire fighter, mechanic and heavy-duty equipment operator. In the spring of 1953, he was transferred to Zweibrucken, Germany where he was a driver and interpreter for RCAF officers. Because of his friendly personality and the fact that he was bilingual Dad made friends with many German people. One of these friends, Hans Grauwickel, would become his father-in-law, as Dad’s heart soon belonged to Hans and Lina’s daughter, Emma and they were married on May 21, 1955. In February 1956, Dad took the hand of his young wife, and brought her and their infant son, Ruben back to Canada. After Dad’s honorable discharge from the RCAF in March 1956, he once again took mom’s hand and the family of 3 moved back to his Alberta roots. They made their first home in Carbon, moving to Three Hills in 1959 and in 1961 to Wimborne. This is when their family grew with the addition of their daughter, Susan and another son, Ken. Wimborne was their home until 2007 when they moved to Olds. Dad was employed with the M.D. of Kneehill road crew from 1956-1961 and 1961-1984 doing road maintenance. After his retirement from the county, he worked part-time with Westside Trucking out of Wimborne until his full retirement in 1994.
Dad could fix, build, repair, remodel, invent and make anything work. He never said no to hard work and was always available to lend a helping hand. He enjoyed cooking and one of our many family traditions was on Friday nights when he would make us homemade potato chips or popcorn and we would watch TV together. He loved gardening and spent much time outdoors camping, fishing and travelling with friends and family. He laughed often and sometimes so hard that tears would roll down his cheeks. Dad had a quiet, content and honest personality and was a very approachable man. He enjoyed “people watching” but his greatest love was his family, and nothing made him happier and more content then to be with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an active lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Torrington. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Olds, the Wimborne Fish and Game and the Wimborne Hall Board.
Dad was known for wearing hats and got many compliments on how distinguished he looked in them. Wherever Dad and Mom went, you would always see them holding hands even in their senior years which included up until the final hours of Dad’s passing.
He leaves behind to love and cherish his memory, his wife of 66 years, Emma. Their children, Ruben (Leslie), Susan (Dean Hastie) and Ken (Patsy), 8 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by many more loving family members, in-laws and friends in Canada, USA and abroad.
"Remember your hat Dad, it's time to go."
If desired, memorial tributes in Dad’s honor can be made directly to Olds and District Hospice Society.
HEARTLAND FUNERAL SERVICES, Olds, AB entrusted with arrangements
