Obituary of Albert Erbe

Albert Erbe 1927 – 2011 Albert Erbe was born on March 20, 1927 in Freihofen, Germany to his parents Paul and Berta Erbe. He was the youngest child of the family, and had two elder sisters Margot and Erna. The family lived on a farm, and it was through these early experiences Albert first gained his attraction to rural life and agriculture. Upon the end of the WWII, the Erbe family was expelled from their farmland along with millions of other Germans. Albert was forced to leave his family and to seek new opportunities in the war-torn country. Albert decided to enrol in an agriculture college and upon completion applied to both Canada and the United States for immigration. With the Canadian paperwork returning sooner he boarded a boat from Hamburg to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1952. Upon immigration Albert soon moved west and took a series of jobs that had him move around Ontario and Quebec. Many of these positions were short lived and provided very little future for his ambition to farm. While in Toronto, Albert found an article about the Peace Country which highlighted the region’s farming potential. Seeing the opportunity Albert soon after purchased a Model-T and drove it with a friend to Edmonton. Once in Edmonton, Albert heard about mining opportunities in the North and quickly worked his way up to the gold mines of Keno YK. Albert then took a series of jobs that would have him move between Dawson Creek and the Yukon. It would be during this time Albert would be convinced to settle and make his home in the Peace. Upon a return visit to Germany in the 1960’s, Albert was introduced to what would become his future wife Gisela. The couple would soon marry and move back to Canada on the condition that if Gisela did not like it, the couple would return back. Fortunately she liked it and the couple would stay, having three children in the process (Manuela, Uwe, and Carsten). Albert started farming in Groundbirch in 1968. As the farm was mostly undeveloped and required years of extensive clearing and breaking of land. The farm would arduously move towards full production. In 1979, Albert suffered a terrible combine accident in which he lost most of his left hand. In 1980, the Erbe family purchased property on east end of town and the following year started what would become Erbe Feed. Although never being intended as a fulltime business, the feedmill would be operational for the next 30 years. In 1996, Albert would run for the Electoral District Director "D” position. He would win and continue to be re-elected for two more times. Albert loved politics as it was his opportunity to give back to the community he treasured. Albert passed away peacefully January 14, 2011 after a 6 month battle with lung cancer. A ceremony was held in his honour on January 20, 2011. Albert will be missed dearly by his family and his many friends throughout the community. A celebration of life social gathering was held on January 20, 2011 at the George Dawson Inn Banquet Room, Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Albert, may be made by donation to the ‘Rotary Manor,' 1121 - 90 Avenue, Dawson Creek, British Columbia V1G 3A5, the ‘Canadian Cancer Society’ 1000 - 105 Avenue, Dawson Creek, British Columbia V1G 2B9, or the ‘Dawson Creek and District Hospital Foundation' 11100 - 13 Street, Dawson Creek, British Columbia V1G 3W8.