Willi Bartz

To know Willi Bartz was to love, admire and respect him. Although Willi is grateful for the life he had, he has decided that his work here is done. Willi passed away on April 29, 2023, but not before he made a lasting impression on everyone he ever met.

Willi was born February 3, 1942, in a small town in Poland. Soon after his birth, Willi moved to Germany with his parents Adolf and Eva, along with his five brothers Alfred, Hugo, Arther, Erich, and Harry. His parents would certainly have their hands full for years to come. YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!! Willi always looked like the innocent brother – simply because he just NEVER got caught. Willi’s family immigrated to Canada in 1955, living in the Readymade area and returned to Germany shortly after. They came back to Canada in the early 1960’s moving to Calgary. Little did Willi know that this was where he would meet his future bride, Adeline Fehr.

Willi and Adeline worked in the same mall; Willi worked at Bata Shoe Store and Adeline worked at the Kresge’s Lunch Counter. Their first date was November 22, 1936 – good for Willi and Adeline, not so good for JFK. Willi and Adeline were married June 27, 1964 and began their family almost instantly. First came Monica (Bernie) followed by Tabatha (Rob). Life was complete for Willi, he made sure his wife and girls had the best he could manage.

He was a hard-working man and took pride in everything he accomplished. Throughout his life he was a milkman, a concrete laborer, and a feed mill operator to name a few. He never complained… “Head down, ass up”, seemed to be his approach to everything he did.

It was often thought that Willi didn’t know Adeline’s real name. He rarely would ever use it, it was always Addy, Chief, or just simply “woman”. The same was thought about his daughters Monica and Tabby – to him they were always “kid”.

Willi liked to go camping with friends and family, spending time holidaying in B.C., especially during cherry and peach picking season. Willi would climb the ladder and pick the fruit; however, when he found the rotten ones he would throw them down at his family, hoping to have it land on someone. That was his kind of fun.

Willi’s sense of humor was like no other, and his stories were endless. Some will be surprised to learn that Willi had some hidden talents. One talent he had was playing the spoons, he could play them better than anybody. His other talent was whittling whistles and walking sticks out of a simple branch. He would search the woods for just that right type of wood and sit for hours to make his creations.

Willi enjoyed spending time with his four grandsons Tim, Christopher, Willi (Tonnia) and Steven (Laura). He would tease them endlessly until they got older and finally figured out what a shit disturber he really was. Alongside his grandsons, those that knew Willi will idolize him today, and forever. Although Willi didn’t get to spend as much time with his great grandchildren Faith, Orion and Aoife, he truly loved them with all his heart.

Willi was an animal lover, especially his dogs and birds. His best girl Yoshi left us April 13, 2023 but I know they are together today. Although we are sad Willi is no longer here, we can find happiness knowing that he is finally at peace and walking with his little Yoshi (but not on a leash, she hated a leash)

 And now… I think it’s time for a beer break!!

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