Artur Adolf Schmidt

Artur said goodbye peacefully at home with the help of MAID after a long and happy life. He is lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his wife and best friend Margaret who says she “backed into a bucket of cream” when she met Artur. He holds a special place in the hearts of his sisters-in-law Shirley McTaggart (Ottawa) and Edith Frohn (Germany)and his nieces and nephews – Anne Magnussen (Harold), George McTaggart (Sabrina), Tory McTaggart (Jamie Fraser), David Oliver (Liz Ruest) and Laura Oliver and their families.

Art was born in Leverkusen, Germany and moved to Canada in 1956, landing and settling quickly and happily in Toronto. His trade as a tool and die maker offered him instant job security and ignited his lifelong passion for tools. His impeccable work bench was a sight to behold and he relished every opportunity to build kayaks and furniture and to tweak his home and toys from camper van to bicycle, to fit his needs.

Art’s love affair with the Canadian wilderness began the instant he discovered nearby lakes, rivers and forests. He was happiest when surrounded by nature and he and Marg spent many happy decades paddling, hiking, cycling, skiing, camping and exploring this great continent from the Arctic Circle to the Baja Peninsula. He adopted his new homeland with passion. Still going strong this summer, Art cycled almost daily along the waterfront trail in Whitby aboard his treasured recumbent bicycle.

Art and Marg’s friends from their many outdoor clubs including the Senior’s for Nature Club of the GTA became family and their times spent together were cherished. We will remember Art as a calm, quiet, generous, extremely capable and organized man with a twinkle in his eye, a great sense of humour, a passion for nature, classical music, Riesling, his bike and his best girl Marg.

Listen up when you hear a songbird sing, for our dear Art is near.

At Artur’s request there will be no funeral. Cremation has taken place. Donations to the Trans Canada Trail www.tctrail.ca would make our songbird sing!