3-Jul-1925 - 12-Aug-2024
To know him was to love him! A fun loving, hardworking adventurer, always putting family first! How do you summarize 100 years in a few paragraphs?
Edgar passed away peacefully at the age of 99 surrounded by his loving family and in the care of Margaret Bahen Hospice in Newmarket, Ontario. He was born on July 3, 1925 to Gustav Rapp and Paulina Schatz in Neuanlag, Ukraine.
The early years were happy but also filled with hardships. At age 12, he was working on the family farm and then had to become the “man of the house” when his father was taken due to war time regimes. During the war years he and his family were forced to leave their farm and head west to what they thought was safety in Germany. He was forced to serve in the war.
At the end of the WW2, his sister, Klara was taken as a POW, thought to be dead but was later reunited with her family in the mid 60’s.
At age 20, he and his family made their new home in Backnang, Germany where he started his career as a wood pattern maker in the tool & die industry. There, he met the love of his life Frieda Richter. They were married in 1949 and in 1950 welcomed their first child Harald. Being the adventurer, he wanted more and in 1954, he left his family and immigrated to Canada with nothing but a long shot job in Toronto, his belongings and a wife and child. They settled in and welcomed their second child Ronald in 1959. They joined the Lutheran church, practiced their faith and made many friends there.
Life was good and his love of the outdoors and fishing with friends led him to Georgian Bay. On his meager salary in 1958 he was able to buy a piece of land near Honey Harbor, that became and still is our cherished family cottage. It was his pride and joy!
He worked extremely hard and took risks. In 1963 he bought a larger house and started his own business, Expert Pattern Works Ltd. He was able to work from home and in 1964, they welcomed their third child, Ingrid. The business succeeded and expanded and allowed Edgar to live the life he dreamt of when he left Germany.
He & Frieda retired in 1993 and continued their adventures by becoming snowbirds and spending their winters in Fort Myers, Florida for 15 years. There, he found a new love… Golf! He even shot a “Hole in One”! They shared many happy family times there with their children and grandchildren. Summers were spent at the cottage until their early 90’s! Edgar’s last swim in the lake was at age 94! His beloved Frieda passed in Oct. 2022, they celebrated 73 years together!
Having survived many hardships, Edgar was a strong-willed fighter. He endured many illnesses and fooled us many times that his journey on earth was ending. He always put family first and we believed he just didn’t want to leave us! Recently, he lost his son Ronald, at age 64 and this hit him hard. Possibly the catalyst to his final journey.
Edgar is survived by his son, Harald (Suzanne) and daughter Ingrid (Rick). His grandchildren Shaun (Sean), Kerri (Liam), Mathew (Jenna), Cristien, Nicholas (Martha), Devin (Jhonna), Reid (Madie) and Cole (Ashley). By 6 great grandchildren, Gracyn, Jake, Ava, Gabriel, Nolan and Bennett. Also close to him, his sister-in-law and brother- in-law, Renate and Eric and their children. His nephew in Germany Edmund (Uschi).
Edgar will be greatly missed. He was greatly loved. He had his ways and taught many; it was only his way! E.R. His final resting place will be at Newmarket Cemetery, Newmarket, Ontario Canada.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Southlake Hospital Foundation
Margaret Bahen Hospice
Visitation
23-Aug-2024
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Taylor Funeral Home
524 Davis Drive
Newmarket ON L3Y 2P3
Memorial Service
23-Aug-2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Taylor Funeral Home
524 Davis Drive
Newmarket ON L3Y 2P3
Reception
23-Aug-2024
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Taylor Funeral Home
524 Davis Drive
Newmarket ON L3Y 2P3