MENSINGER, FREDRICK JORDAN “FRED” PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY NOVEMBER 3, 1995 AT VULCAN, ALBERTA.
FRED WAS BORN MAY 20, 1906 AT DANBURY, IOWA. HE CAME TO THE REID HILL DISTRICT OF VULCAN IN 1909 WITH HIS FATHER FREDRICK SR, MOTHER MAMIE, BROTHERS BENJAMIN AND ADAM AND A BABY SISTER MABEL. HE ATTENDED SUNNY GLEN SCHOOL AND HIS FIRST TEACHER WAS AN UNCLE OF THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER JOHN DIEFENBAKER. IN 1927 FRED MARRIED VIOLA RICHARDSON AND TOGETHER THEY FARMED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM HIS FATHERS FARM. IN 1938 THEY MOVED TO VULCAN AND OPENED A ONE CAR DEALERSHIP “MENSINGER MOTORS” WHICH FRED CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND OPERATE AS WELL AS FARMING. HE SOLD THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN 1952 AND THEY PURCHASED A FOUR-PLEX IN LETHBRIDGE AND CONTINUED FARMING IN VULCAN. FRED WAS AN INVENTOR AND BUILDER. HE HAD GREAT PRIDE IN GROWING REGISTERED SEED WHICH WON MANY AWARDS. HE RETIRED FROM FARMING IN 1960 AND RESIDED IN LETHBRIDGE. FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF HIS WIFE VIOLA. IN 1980, FRED MARRIED RETA THOMAS IN 1982 AND TOGETHER THEY ENJOYED TRAVELLING AND HAD MANY WONDERFUL TIMES TOGETHER. FRED WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMERS IN 1990 AND RETA TOOK CARE OF HIM AT HOME UNTIL HE MOVED INTO EXTENDICARE IN 1992 WHERE HE HAS RECEIVED ATTENTION AND TENDER LOVING CARE UNTIL HIS PASSING.
FRED WAS ALWAYS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AS A LIFE MEMBER OF LETHBRIDGE LODGE #37, B.P.O ELKS, A PAST MEMBER OF THE VULCAN LEGION, VULCAN LIONS CLUB, AND VULCAN CURLING CLUB. WHILE HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT HE HELPED TO FURNISH THE CLUB LOUNGE AND ENJOYED MANY BONSPIELS. HE WAS ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED GOLFER AND A PAST MEMBER OF THE VULCAN GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, AND A PAST MEMBER OF THE ODDFELLOWS LODGE.
HE HELPED MAKE SKATING RINKS FOR COMMUNITY HOCKEY GAMES AND HAD A BALL DIAMOND ON HIS FARM WHERE HE PLAYED A GAME EVERY SUNDAY, WITH HIS BROTHER BJ ON ONE TEAM PITCHING AND FRED ON THE OTHER PLAYING AN INFIELD POSITION. THE GARAGE WAS A GREAT GATHERING PLACE, AND TO THOSE WHO MET THERE, EXCHANGING STORIES, DRANK COFFEE AND PLAYED QUARTER TOSS FOR MILK SHAKES EACH DAY.
FRED LOVED HIS FAMILY INCLUDING A FAVOURITE PEKINESE DOG “PUDDLES” . ONE OF FRED‘S FAVOURITE THOUGHTS WAS “LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED, BUT BY THE ROAD TAKEN”.
BELOVED HUSBAND OF RETA, FATHER OF THREE SONS LAWRENCE, ELWOOD AND HIS WIFE JOAN ALL OF VULCAN AND HAROLD OF SQUAMISH, B.C., A DAUGHTER LOIS SWITZER OF CALGARY, TEN GRANDCHILDREN PENNIE, DANA, WALLY, LAURIE, DONNA , SUSAN, KEM, BRENDA, DENISE AND RAYMOND AND TWELVE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
FRED WAS PREDECEASED BY HIS FIRST WIFE VIOLA IN 1980, AN INFANT SISTER MABEL, THREE BROTHERS BEN, ADAM AND WALTER, HIS PARENTS, A GRANDDAUGHTER, JOEL ANN MENSINGER, TWO GREAT GRANDSONS DEVON AND HEDIN.
FUNERAL SERVICE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 1995 AT 11 A.M. AT VULCAN UNITED CHURCH WITH REV. DON WAIT OFFICIATING.
INTERMENT AT 3 PM AT MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY, LETHBRIDGE.
HONOURARY BEARERS; REINHOLD, LUNDGREN, ROY McINTYRE, ED GIVEN, CLARENCE IOHNK, STUART CAMPBELL AND DAN WATSON.
CASKET BEARERS; PAT WALKER, ALLAN WALKER, KEITH HEALY, PETER SILBERNAGEL, BOB HEALY AND LAWRENCE LUNDGREN.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS TO EITHER VULCAN EXTENDICARE AUXILIARY BOX 810, VULCAN, VULCAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BOX 299, VULCAN T0L 2B0 OR S.T.A.RS 1441 AVIATION PARK N.E. BOX 570 CALGARY TZE 8M7.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME.