Obituary of Fred DEWIEL

John Ernst Fredrik DeWiel (Fred) was born in Freidrichroda, Germany and proceeded to live an interesting, diverse and full 96 years, dying peacefully in Calgary with family by his side. Fred was the grandson of a German industrialist chocolatier, and the son of a Swedish semi pro golfer and bobsledder. He was a WW2 lieutenant paratrooper in the German Luftwaffe as well as a prisoner of war in the same war. Fred was a PHD (geology), an award winning amateur photographer, a very good field hockey player and skier, an avid traveler, a loving husband and father of five and a grandfather of four. While born into a privileged family, Fred made his way in the world without any help from anyone, including God, and lived his life to the fullest. After the war he met his love, Gertrud and together they immigrated to Canada where he worked as a petroleum geologist, first for Texaco and Wintershall Oil, then for his own company Calham Resources and later for V-Zay Smith Associates but what he really preferred was academia. A true earth scientist, Fred wrote and published many articles, travel books and tapes in English and in German. In his eighties and nineties he wrote his, Gertrud’s and their combined memoirs, his mind staying sharp right to the end. He is survived by daughters Alexa DeWiel (Kathy Vance) and Andrea Havinga (Michael Havinga); sons Erik DeWiel (Christina Seger) and Boris DeWiel; grandchildren Nicholas Havinga (Brynn Havinga), Sean DeWiel, Brynne Havinga and Joel DeWiel; and sisters Carla Foytenyi, in Toronto and Lydia Dewiel, in Munich. Fred was predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Gertrud, his daughter Sylvia DeWiel, and his sister Maja Lena. A private Celebration of Fred’s life will be held at a later date. The family wishes to thank the staff of Agape Hospice for their thoughtful care and support. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Agapé Hospice, 1302 - 8 Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1B8 Telephone: (403) 282-6588, www.agapehospice.ca