Willy Horst Bohme

With heavy hearts and great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved father William (Willy) Horst Bohme at the age of 86. Willy Bohme was born in Leipzig, Germany on November 25, 1929 and passed away peacefully on May 7, 2016 at the Richmond Hospital, BC after a short and unexpected illness. The second of three siblings, he is predeceased by his elder brother, Werner and survived by his younger brother, Heinz of Leipzig. His beloved wife of 41 years, Annemarie (nee Giese) passed away November 29, 1996 in Burnaby, BC. Willy is lovingly remembered by son Dennis, wife Dawne and their daughters Bethany and Martina, son Peter, daughter Christine and her daughters Melissa and Sarah.

Willy grew up through the turbulent years of WWII in the south part of Leipzig in an apartment with his parents and younger brother (his older brother was in the army and survived WWII). Working hard and doing well at school, helping family and going to church were important to him early in life. He was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Leipzig in 1940.

In January 1948, Willy left his hometown and hiked across the east-west German border near Benneckstein in the Harz Mountains, and eventually travelled to Hamburg where he found farm-hand work outside the city. It was in the farmland fields of Volksdorf, Schleswig-Holstein that he met his future wife, Annemarie Giese. Although they were destined to be apart for several years, Willy remained true and steadfast, writing letters throughout the long distance courtship.

Willy left rural Hamburg in 1950 and worked for a short time in the insurance business in Muenster, Germany. His Aunt Charlotte (Unger) sponsored his emigration to Canada and in February 1951 he flew to Montreal from Amsterdam, Holland. After working several years in Toronto (streetcar maintenance and rail line snow clearing) and Sudbury (underground miner for Inco Limited) he travelled to Vancouver by train in September 1953. He very much enjoyed the mountains and ocean, lush forests, the views and the fresh air of the west coast. He pursued a career in woodworking and residential construction after completing a technical degree and carpenter apprenticeship through Vancouver Vocational School. Between 1957 and the late 1970’s, he built over 30 houses in the Vancouver-Burnaby area under the name Bohme Construction, Quality Medallion Homes.

In March-April 1955, Willy sponsored Annemarie to immigrate to Canada and they were married at Vancouver City Hall in September. After a short honeymoon in the Thompson-Okanagan, driving the Fraser Canyon in their Morris Minor car, they moved into a basement suite near Cambie Street and King Edward and began their working lives. In 1958 they purchased a home on East 40th Avenue near Queen Elizabeth Park and raised three children there.

In 1968, the family moved to a new home constructed by Willy on Service Street in south-central Burnaby. From the late 1970’s to retirement, Willy worked for the Burnaby School Board, various restoration companies, the Burnaby Public Library and several building maintenance companies. He enjoyed hiking in the local mountains with his children and camping throughout BC. He was a kind and generous person always willing to lend a hand. Willy also enjoyed listening to classical music from the great composers as well as European folk and polka music. Hobbies included letter and postcard writing, stamp and coin collecting, picture albums, professional sport memorabilia, choir and woodworking. He always enjoyed the European tradition of coffee and pastry or cake in the late afternoon.

There was a void in his life after Annemarie passed away. In 1998, while attending a choir event, he posted a note on the bulletin board of the German Alpen Club seeking a companion/partner. A very fine Swiss lady named Mary Rey responded and they became devoted partners for over 15 years until his death. They lived in Richmond and travelled together several times to Europe (Germany, Switzerland), the United States (California, Arizona, Hawaii) and Eastern Canada (Montreal, Quebec City). Willy and Mary were never apart and enjoyed a rich, wonderful and adventurous life together, dancing, singing in choirs, travelling & picnics. Willy got to know the Rey family and shared many special family moments with Mary’s daughter Edith, husband David Preston and their daughters Zoe and Emma of Montreal and her sons Peter Rey of Victoria and Rene Rey of Vancouver. He will be missed by the Rey family. Willy and Mary were active in the Swiss, Austrian and German Clubs in the Lower Mainland and sang in their affiliated choirs. Over the years they thoroughly enjoyed the old European fest and social “gemutlichkeit” fun around town at different events.