Obituary of Herbert Thrun
March 27, 1927 – September 14, 2022
Passed away peacefully at the age of 95 with his family by his side at Erie Shores Hospice Campus in Leamington, Ontario.
Predeceased by his loving wife of 62 years Helga (April 30, 2019), his parents Joseph and Martha Thrun, as well as his brother Werner (Annelise) and sister Elizabeth (Siegfried). Herb will be lovingly remembered by his son Ralph (Cathy), daughter Karin (Jerry) and grandchildren Elizabeth, Robert and Joseph.
Herbert (Herb) was born in Danzig, Germany (now Gdańsk, Poland). He immigrated to Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1958 with his wife Helga.
Herb held many jobs in his lifetime to provide for his family such as a school bus driver and a fish trucker but the job he was most proud of was his 20-year employment, as a mechanic, with Sears Canada that he retired from in 1985.
During his retirement, he became a skilled model builder of remote-controlled boats and planes. As a member of the MAAC (Model Aeronautics Associate of Canada) he crashed a few planes before mastering the art of flying (his words). He and his buddies formed a flying club, meeting every Tuesday to show off their talents and share some long tales over a coffee and homemade sweets. Over time he said they did more talking and eating than flying.
His pride and joy is a church that took him one year to build, no plans or drawings just a miniature replica of his church in Thunder Bay. All decked out with an altar, pews, lights and stained-glass windows that he proudly says his daughter Karin helped him make. It’s no surprise that this church now resides with his daughter in Florida.
Herb loved to tinker, to find better ways of doing things accompanied by an infectious sense of humour and perfectly timed Dad jokes. He inherited great genes and loved to ask everyone he met, “How old do you think I am?” He’d beam from ear to ear when they remarked in astonishment, “There’s no way you’re 95!”
The family would like to thank the staff and friends at Chartwell for your friendship, support and prayers. The nurses, doctors and volunteers at the Erie Shores Medical Center and Erie Shores Hospice. A special thank you to friends Paul Palabek (for your friendship, support, visits, Kozy Shack and pears), Midge Hunt, you are an angel for being with our Dad while we travelled to be by his side, and Walter and Mary Srigley for being there to help Dad with appointments, errands and tasks.
As per Dads wishes cremation has already taken place. A private family service will be held at a later date.
If you so desire donations to the Erie Shores Hospice Campus (https://www.eshf.ca/donations/erie-shores-health-foundation/) would be appreciated by the family.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7