Karla Anna Helene Kunzig

Sept 19th 1935 – May 21st 2023

It is with heavy hearts that our beloved Karla suddenly passed away on May 21st 2023. She leaves behind her loving children Karen (Armin) and Gordon (Brenda), 6 grand children (Arno, Markus, Aisha, Avalon and Soleil) and 1 great grandchild (Clementine). Also siblings Lolo, Werner (Silke) and Gus(Krimhild) and many nieces and nephews in Germany. She joins her beloved husband (Walter), mother (Anita), sister (Edith) and grand child (Micah).

Karla was born on Sept 19th 1935, in Elmshorn, Germany to parents Anita Fleig and Johannes Hagelstein. She met her husband Walter at age sixteen and with dreams of adventure, they immigrated to Canada all on their own. She often reminisced of those first years alone in Canada where they explored the country living in Kitimat, BC. And then moving back to Winnipeg, MB.

In Canada, she gave birth to her two children, Karen and Gordon. Family time was important to Karla and this made them purchase a cabin at Tall Timber Lodge once the kids were early teenagers. They spent countless summers, winters all together, with friends and family. Karla always said that acquiring the cabin was one of the best decisions they ever made.

Although they built their life in Canada, it was important to her to return to Germany often and to keep in touch with family. Over the years, they made many trips back to their home country and to this day, Karla kept close contact with her brothers and sisters. It was also important to her to keep in touch with her German roots and continue on many traditions: speaking German, lighting candles in her Christmas tree and of course, enjoying a few Schnapps!

For most of her adult life, Karla worked at Sears. She was very proud to have been a working woman. She had many stories of her years there, where she kept many friendships. To this day she would often talk to us with pride about her many achievements there.

Her hard work over the years gave her a lot of freedom later in life. Karla always had a sense of adventure and travel, but in retirement, she took full advantage and traveled every winter to Texas and later to Cuba. Her good nature and easy-going personality made it so that she easily made friendships everywhere she went. She was always very interested in others and interesting to listen to at the same time sharing her stories.

Karla was a woman who was a kind, compassionate person with a heart of gold. She was very grateful later in life for the care she received in the last few years but was also known to be helpful to others. In particular helping one friend whose life she impacted greatly.

Although in her last years Karla was diagnosed with Parkinson's, this did not slow her down. With her daughter Karen, they continued to live an active lifestyle, camping, traveling and joining exercise classes. Even in her last year of life when dementia and Parkinson started being more difficult, Karla was inspiring and continued going to the cabin, traveled to Mexico and Victoria, BC. She did not like to miss a party! Nothing was ever too much for Karla and she would always say yes to another adventure.

While her passing is difficult for all of us who knew her, we are happy to know that this next step in her journey has reunited her with her soulmate Walter. She missed him dearly, and despite the fact that he was gone for over 10 years, Karla still yearned for him and would often tear up thinking of him. We are comforted to know that they are now together. She will be greatly missed.

A celebration of life will be held at her home at a later date. Instead of flowers, we kindly ask you make a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation of Manitoba.