Erhardt Spangehl

Obituary for Erhardt (Ed) Spangehl

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Erhardt Bruno Spangehl on January 28, 2026 at the age of 101. His quality of life was defined by integrity, purpose and productivity.

Erhardt was born in East Prussia, Germany, near the town of Tilsit, on December 09, 1924. This land is now part of Russia.

During World War II, his family had to flee their beloved multigenerational farm. Erhardt who had been conscripted at 17, was taken prisoner four times and narrowly escaped each time. After the war, the family relocated to western Germany to the town of Schliestedt, near Braunschweig. As displaced persons, they were very lucky to be given a small farm. However, Erhardt could not see his future there. In 1951 he immigrated to Canada and after a year of farm life in Stonewall Manitoba, he moved to Regina and started carpentry work.

In 1953, German carpenter met German nurse at the Trianon Ballroom, and a year later, they were married! Erhardt married Karin Schreiber, who worked at the Grey Nun’s (now Pasqua) Hospital in Regina. They lived on her salary so that he could establish his construction and real estate business in 1959. Together with our grandparents, who emigrated in 1953, our parents nurtured the German language and culture. Dad always played the harmonica along with our traditional Christmas carols. Our early friendships and events were celebrated with the German community.

Over his lengthy career, Quality Construction Ltd. built over 700 homes, several townhouse complexes and apartment buildings. In 1968, the company built the new German Canadian Harmony Club in Regina. Dad continued to do appraisal work into his 80s.

In 1976, Mom and Dad purchased our cottage at Katepwa Lake. For fifty years, it became a wonderful meeting place for family, relatives from Germany and many friends. Our Dad planted 250 spruce trees and turned the property into a park land. Mom and Dad had two huge gardens, because Dad’s motto was “go big or go home”! He loved the fertile soil of the Qu’Appelle Valley. Fruit trees, grapes, black currant bushes and more vegetables than one family could eat grew abundantly, so much of the produce was given away. “It must be eaten”!

Opa was known for making his famous Opa Juice, which was wine from apples, black currants, and chokecherries. Even the underage grandkids managed to get some! For years, he raised pheasants with a dream to populate the Valley, but predators and nature consistently outfoxed him. Dad was able to spend his last summer at the cottage, which we had named Klein Odenwald. It was truly his happy place. He enjoyed gardening into his late 90s. To stay fit after he could no longer garden, he walked regularly ….along the Trans Canada Trail behind the cottage, or along the burm of Wascana Creek in Regina.

Erhardt was also passionate about playing a German card game, Skat. Despite his busy work week, there was time to get together with German friends to play into the wee hours of the night! He passed the love of the game to his sons and grandchildren. He was even able to play with his sons on his 101st birthday. As the Skat players passed, Dad became an avid bridge player. He very much enjoyed the camaraderie at the card tables over the years. Dad was tremendously proud of his three children, their spouses and eight grandchildren – Marita (Ken Bray) with Katrina, Carl and Madeleine; Werner (Vivian † Barker) with Tori, Madeline and Peter; and Mark (Kathie Sullivan) with Felicia and Joseph. He is blessed (so far) with six great-grandchildren: Elliot, August, Emily, Pearson, Nora, and Callie.

Despite the horrific events he witnessed during the war, and the struggles he faced coming to Canada and in his business, he was resilient, optimistic and engaging. Sharp to the end, he was up to date about the global state of affairs. He was generous, honest and loved telling stories. Ed had compassion for those less fortunate, and if he could make a difference, he helped them along their way.

Erhardt was predeceased in 2021 by his loving wife Karin, after 67 years. He will be fondly remembered by his extended family in parts of Canada, USA, and Germany, as well as the many people whose lives he profoundly touched. May his soul Rest in Peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Souls Harbour Rescue Mission https://shrmsk.com/donate/

If you are so inclined to read a condensed version of his memoir, here it is: https://saskgermancouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Spangehl-story_final.pdf