CHRISTIAN HEINRICH

June 14, 1943 ~ March 5, 2013

Mr. Christian Heinrich passed away peacefully at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at the age of 69, after a brave battle with esophageal cancer.  While at the hospital, he was surrounded by family, close friends, and the Palliative Care nurses who gave him much comfort.  Chris is survived by his sister, Hedi;  brother, Urs;  sister-in-law, Monica;  nieces, Doris, Alex, Claudia, Fransiska, Martina, and Ursina;  nephew, Andreas as well as a number of other extended family members and friends. Chris was predeceased by his mother, Hedy;  father, Christian;  oldest brother, Jürg and step-mother, Greti.  Chris was born and raised in Pontresina, Switzerland – a small village in the Alps where his family owned and ran a hotel:  Hotel Engadinerhof.  He had polio as a young child and spent many summers in the hospital undergoing operations to straighten his right leg.  Unable to ski or mountain climb, he found other ways to keep busy, like horseback riding, sledding, and reading.  Those childhood hobbies turned into lifelong passions.  After finishing school, getting a Hotel Management Certificate and working in a few Swiss hotels including the family business, Chris set his sights on Canada and landed in Toronto in 1966.  Chris headed briefly to the Laurentians before making his way west, and spending many years in northern Canada and seeing more of this country than most Canadians.  He lived for years in Jasper, working at the Jasper Park Lodge.  Chris set up work camps in Grande Cache and Clinton.  He spent 10 years in Peace River where he had a store, and where he married Renate Ziegler.  Together they bred and raced huskies, and were married for 18 years. Following Peace River, he came to Medicine Hat.  Chris had a stable where he boarded horses and was an Assistant Therapeutic Riding Instructor. He was also an artisan – engraving and sand blasting glass and stone.  More than anything, Chris was strong, independent, and intelligent.  His will to not be limited by his disabilities was inspiring, and he will be missed dearly by his friends and family.  A Celebration of Christian’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at 11:00 A.M. with Life Celebrant Gerry Getz officiating.  (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com)     Honoured to serve the family is COOK SOUTHLAND Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 4V4.  Telephone:  403-527-6455.