Fredrick Martin Crowhurst

Fredrick Martin Crowhurst, born March 25, 1928, passed away quietly at the ripe old age of 96 and half, on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, making him the oldest-living Crowhurst in a patrilineal line that dates to 1280 CE from the region of Sussex, England. He was always proud of his British heritage.

Born in Boissevain, Manitoba as the first child of Estella Romanczysz and Martin Fredrick Crowhurst, he is survived by his siblings Marion, Evelyn, and Tom, children Wendy, Lynn, Tim, stepdaughter Gemma, as well as grandchildren Antonia, Zachary, Michael, Charlotte and Trevor.

Born before technology came to be a thing, Fred’s birthday coincided with the beginning of “the Talkies” -- sound motion pictures, as well as the very first Academy Awards Ceremony! Fred grew up the oldest son in a very small town where his father and grandfather were the local mayors during the dark days of the Depression and World War II. Not old enough to enlist, but wanting to go, he finally made it to Europe aboard a steamliner after the war where he sought to find where the Axis armies had hidden their plunder. He never did find them, but returned to Boissevain where his experience in the family bakery meant that he was invited by the Canadian Wheat Board to fly on these new contraptions known as Jet Airplanes to go to Japan to seek out new markets for Canadian grain.

In the 1950’s he left the Prairies for his beloved West Coast where he had a long career in banking with BMO and ending at the Credit Union Reserve Board.

The best part of knowing Fred was to know his wife of 50 years, Maria. A loving, caring, compassionate and tolerant wife, mother, stepmother and grandmother. If you were lucky enough to be invited to dinner at their place, you would never forget the sumptuous meals, with a beautifully set table, and perhaps a few homemade liqueurs to boot! Everyone in the know will appreciate that Fred’s longevity was a direct result of Maria’s healthy cooking, and the fact that she got the old codger out for a bike ride or a walk every day, rain or shine.

He enjoyed his garden, Mustang cars, and the occasional tipple. There will be no service by request.