Gisela Minnder
March 24, 1934 – May 14, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gisela Maria Minnder on May 14, 2022 at the age of 88. She is survived by her daughters, Bettina (Mike Robinson), Johanna (Clinton Solomon) and Catherina (Doug Van Dusen) and son, Hermann (Stacy). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Brent (Ashley) and Michelle Chambers, Kelsey (Dave) and Danny Shaffer, Caitlyn and Carolyn White, Maddie and Mike Minnder.
Gisela was born on March 24, 1934 in Heppenheim, West Germany to Maria and Franz Samstag. She was quite proud of working as a Municipal Clerk in their town hall after she completed her schooling. Mom met our dad and they dated until he travelled to Canada to work in a bush camp in the BC forests. When he returned to Germany they got married.
First Bettina and then Johanna were born in Germany. Shortly thereafter the family immigrated to Canada, landing in Chatham, Ontario. Our dad eventually worked for several years at the Kerr Farms which is still running to this day. There they had Catherina and within two years moved to Dryden as they had purchased a large piece of property, sight unseen, in Oxdrift out of a tax sale catalogue.
Hermann was born in Dryden and completed the family. Our parents worked tirelessly to build a home and raise a family while working and farming the land. Dad had several long term jobs until he was employed by Dryden Woodlands where he worked for 27 years prior to his retirement, farming all the while.
Our mom taught us to be resourceful, self-sufficient and independent. She instilled a love of reading and taught us to work hard and have the ability to take on any crafting project while making it look easy. Crocheting, macrame, felt Christmas ornaments, painting ceramics, embroidery and much more. We all had sweaters, ponchos and many pairs of slippers and mittens hand knit for us.
Our parents had 9 grandchildren in 10 years and Christmas and other holidays were so much fun with everyone gathered at their home. All of the grandchildren have fond memories of going to Oma and Opa’s house and having “coffee” with the fancy tea cups and eating Papa Kuchen and streusel kuchen.
Gisela is predeceased by grandson Mickenzie Minnder in 1997, her husband Heinz in 2016 and her beloved brother, Dieter, also in 2016.
Cremation has taken place and there will be a private memorial service for the family at a later date.
Donations may be made to the Children’s Wish Foundation through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Avenue, Dryden, ON P8N 2X3
Condolences may be posted at www.dcfh.ca
