Oh what a day! In Berlin, Germany on November 23rd, 1951, Ursula and Paul Lichtblau gave birth to their only and very unique son, Andreas Paul. The Universe/God had thrown another pebble into Life’s ocean.
The wee Lichtblau family immigrated to Canada in 1959 and settled in Toronto where Andreas attended school and learned to speak English, very proficiently. In his teens, his father began work as a Translator for Atomic Energy of Canada and the family moved to Sheridan Park area of Mississauga, where fields abounded with deer and the QEW was the quick route to anywhere. Fascinated by rocks at a very young age, Andreas attended the University of Toronto and then Erindale College in Mississauga where he received a Bachelor of Science in Geology degree in 1976. He accepted a Lab Assistant position with Dr. Eric Dimroth at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi in September of 1976 and in the spring of 1977, Andreas met Cynthia, on a blind date, no less. As Andreas studied and completed a Master’s of Science in Geology degree at UQAC over the next two years, friendship grew and transformed into a solid partnership of 40 years. Married in 1979, Andreas and Cynthia gradually had four children: Caroline Williams (Gregory) of Mississauga, Marc (Lee Ann Thérrien) of Hamilton, Paul (Gaëlle Thomas) of Vancouver and Rachel (Tevin Todd), now living in Red Lake. And the ripples expanded.
Since his love of Geology was the driving force in career choices, Andreas and Cynthia and their family spent their lives together where the rocks were; starting in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, they moved to Chapais, Québec, then to Nolalu, Ontario (close to Thunder Bay) and finally to Red Lake. After 40 years of working in both industry and government, Andreas retired in November of 2018 with plans to relocate closer to the kids (and with easier access to a major airport) and enjoy life with less snow.
Travelling plans were to include more time with his newly found aunt, Marguérite Paul of Pagny-sur-Moselle and his cousin, Arlette Diesel (Claude) of Lessy, and their children, in France.
Andreas was a wonderful person, in so many ways, to so many people. He loved his work; his common comment was, ‘Who else gets paid for doing what he loves?’ He also loved his family, his pets, gardening, puttering in his ‘office’ (the garage) and taking care of whatever or whoever needed his attention.
He will be missed enormously; for someone so quiet and reserved, he certainly had an impressive effect on many. That little pebble rippled well and he was a rock for us all. He was predeceased by his parents, his parents-in-law, and brothers-in-law (Douglas Ranger, Ken Chamberlin) and several pets, and is survived by his wife, children, 5 grandkids (Abigail, Thomas, Daniel, Leona-Marie and Gabriel) sisters-in-law (Della (Douglas, deceased) Ranger, Shirley (Douglas)Thompson, Leslyn Chamberlin, Catherine (Bruce) Galipeau) brothers-in-laws (Nelson (Barb) Chamberlin and Cliff (Barb) Chamberlin and many nieces and nephews (Beth, Marilyn, Joel, Bill, Jim, Michael, Susan, Brian, Barry, Cliff, Jared, Jason, Amberlin, Julien, Bertrand) and a whole slew of great nieces and nephews. From his lonely, only-son childhood, he became part of a huge family, many of whom are directly related. More ripples.
Richer than the all the minerals Andreas sought, he has left us devastated, bereft and so very, very sad. Words are insufficient to express our loss. A truly loving man, taken way too soon. Rest well, Good, True and so much Loved Friend, Husband, Father, Uncle, Brother-in-Law, Cousin.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 23rd at 4 pm in the Grace Community Church with Keith Graber officiating.
A private internment will take place at a later date.In lieu of flowers, donations to the Red Lake Heritage Centre may be made through the Red Lake Chapel, Box 237, Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0.
