VOELSKE, Gerd William

Gerd William Voelske

November 5, 1931 – August 19, 2022

Gerd William Voelske of Lethbridge passed away on August 19, 2022 at the age of 90 years.

Gerd was born in Bad Polzin, East Prussia, Germany on November 5, 1931 to Willi and Karolina Volzke. In 1945 his family fled their home for the west towards British occupation as the borders were redrawn at the close of WW11. At the age of 21, Gerd emigrated to Canada, settling in Winnipeg where he met and married his beloved wife, Christel. They moved to Calgary, Alberta the following year and settled in Lethbridge, Coaldale, and finally Nobleford (1978 – 2017).

In Germany, Gerd was trained as an engineer and was a shift supervisor in the coal mines. After emigrating to Canada, he worked as a contractor and carpenter, employed as a foreman by Kenwood Construction in Lethbridge before starting his own construction company. His projects encompassed a broad range of structures including bridges, hotels, the Exhibition Grandstand in Lethbridge and most notably the Fort Whoop-Up historical reconstruction in 1967.

Gerd’s interest in keeping touch with family overseas sparked an interest in electronics and ham operating that saw him become licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator actively transmitting and receiving Morse Code transmissions from all over the globe (1962 – 2022). Radios evolved into the first home-built computers in the 70’s and continued on providing a second career in computer programming. Gerd also had a sideline project where he trained young people on computer technology and often donated repurposed equipment to them.

Bookkeeping required for his business meant that Gerd continued his college education during evenings and weekends over many years. He branched out with accounting services out of his home office in the evenings and on weekends. Tax time provided a secondary income well past retirement. He continued to complete all of his taxes on his own including the 2021 tax year.

Gerd never ceased to learn. He filled his last years with writing his memoirs, photo editing, researching particle physics, and learning how to repair pocket watches. He always had at least a few plants in his life, but at the end had a garden on his balcony year-round. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. Throughout all of his endeavors Gerd focused on spending as much time as possible with his extended family; he encouraged curiosity in the universe in all who met him and was loved by all.

Gerd is survived by his daughter Cynthia James; son-in-law James Piper; grandchildren David Goertzen, Daryl (Pamela) Goertzen, Jasmine (Jim) Lee, Steven (Lindsey) Reedyk, Alison Piper and Trysten Piper; great grandchildren Kira Jaworenko, Adrian Reedyk, Morgan Reedyk, Ryker Jaworenko, Benjamin Goertzen, Ada Goertzen, Ethan Lee and Amelia Lee; sisters Ingrid Ireland, Elvira McKinnon, and Sigrid (Don) Bouck. Gerd was predeceased by his wife Christel (2020), daughters Katherine Piper (2003), Christine Goertzen (2020), parents Willi and Karolina Volzke, and brother Jurgen Volzke.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am, on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Pastor Greg Kern officiating. Inurnment to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.

Visit www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.