FENRICH: Anton Fenrich was born on September 4, 1926 in Krasna, Romania to his parents, Timotheus and Simphrosa. He was the 4th of 8 children born into a successful farming family. During WW2, the family of ten was forced to relocate to Germany, where they stayed for 2 years. At the end of 1942 they were relocated to Poland where 2 of his brothers were promptly drafted into the German Army. Two years later, in the spring of 1944, Tony was drafted into the German Army as a 17 year old. He attended Officer's training where he was made a Sergeant and sent to the Russian front. He was wounded in battle - shot in the arm and hit with shrapnel in his hip. To avoid being captured by the Russians and with the help of one of his friends, he crawled 18 miles to a Red Cross mobile hospital. He was sent to Austria to recover and while recuperating, the war came to an end. After his hospital release, Tony started out to find his family. On the way to Leuteshausen, he crossed through the British occupied zone into the U.S. occupied zone. He was suspected of being a guerrilla and arrested by the Americans. In the U.S. prisoner of war camp, an American General learned that Tony knew how to play chess. During his brief stay in the U.S. prisoner of war camp, Tony played chess on a regular basis with the American General - being sure to always let the General win in the end. When Tony was released by the Americans, he was finally reunited with his family, who previously fled back to Germany to escape the advancing Russians. Tony's older brother, John, never returned from the war. Tony's family struggled in post-war Germany until his Uncle John Fenrich of Wilkie, SK sponsored the family to immigrate to Canada in 1950. They traveled by ship to Eastern Canada and then by train to Saskatchewan. He worked on his Uncle John's farm during farming season and in a Manitoba logging camp during winters. He eventually saved enough money to purchase the John Weber farm. He continued to work off the farm as a Grader Operator for the RM of Buffalo. Most of Tony's family moved to Vancouver. While visiting Vancouver one winter, he met the love of his life, Margaret Heidrich, at the German Catholic church. He wooed her with tales of his fascinating life on the Prairies and she married him on November 11, 1961 in Vancouver. This Remembrance Day would have been their 50th wedding anniversary. He had promised Margaret a big farm house but made sure that she arrived at his farm, for the first time, in the dark of night. Their first home had no indoor plumbing or running water and when the wind blew the linoleum lifted. God bless her, because she stayed and before their first anniversary they welcomed their first child - a son they named Francis Adam. Eleven months later another son arrived - John Stephen. They built a new house on the farm in 1965 just in time for the arrival of their daughter, Monica Marie. And in 1971, they were blessed with a fourth child - James Anthony. Over the years, he continued expanding the farm - purchasing more land and adding livestock and chickens. Margaret's parents would often visit the farm in the summer and without question, they would select the hottest day in July to butcher those chickens. In 1975 Tony built a house in Wilkie so the family could enjoy the winters in town. Tony had an incredible work ethic but also understood the importance of contributing to his community and maintaining relationships with his many friends. Tony was the Chairman of both the Wilkie Union Hospital Board as well as the Developmental Centre Board. He was also the President of the Phippen UGG Local. Tony was instrumental in helping to relocate a Vietnamese refugee family to Wilkie in the late 1970s - they kept in contact with Tony each year. He served his Church community on Parish Council and as a member of the Knights of Columbus including taking on the responsibilities of the Grand Knight. He was a member of the Buffalo Broomball team - which ended with a broken ankle. He and Margaret also bowled in the local league. Later in life, dad enjoyed watching his grandsons play hockey and was particularly proud of his son, John, for being a coach. For 35 years, Saturday nights were reserved for rummy with the Schuhmacher's. Then began their annual pilgrimages to Las Vegas. For decades, they escaped the winter and enjoyed the Vegas experience with friends. The only way he could have had more fun in Vegas is if the Canadian dollar would have been at par! Tony's friends will remember him as a generous character. His Grandchildren will him as the Opi who turned every 'Happy Birthday' song into an enthusiastic opera. His kids will remember him as a man who taught them the importance of leadership, honesty and hard work. And finally, Margaret will remember him as the charismatic, handsome farmer who brought her to the Prairies and she never looked back. Tony passed away on September 17, 2011 and the family invites you to make memorial donations to the Poplar Courts Foundation, Box 459, Wilkie, SK, S0K 4W0. Grondin Funeral Services - Wilkie entrusted with the arrangements. ____________________________________________________
