Paul Heinbergs

I was born the only child to Zenia and Vilis Heinbergs who welcomed me to the world December 17, 1923.

I was raised in a farming community in Latvia in the county of Zlekas. My father left us when I was 12 years old, so I was raised by my mother Zenia. Early in life I had the love for music. I taught myself the accordion, guitar and harmonica. I also had to work hard to help support my family. My first job, I was a log driver down in Abava River. My last job in Latvia was a salesman in a coop general store until the second World War began.

As Latvia got caught up in the war, I got mobilized into the Latvian army. This was to be a very dark time in my life. I was drafted into the Latvian Legion at the age of 19, 1943. Just over a year later and I was wounded and was sent to Germany to heal. From there I was sent to the artillery department of the German army.

After the war ended (May of 1945), I ended up in displaced person camp (DP) in Denmark. In December of 1945 I got a job working in an orchard. In 1946, I traveled back to Germany and stayed in a displaced person’s camp (DP) for approximately 6 months when I got a chance to go back to England to work and start a normal life.

In 1947, I arrived in England. I lived in board and room, and I was employed in a Tin Plate factory (a horrible sweat shop), from there I worked in cotton mills.

I met the love of my life, Elfrida Ansulesulis in England. We met at a St. John’s day party, where between my accordion sets, we danced the night away. The rest they say is history. We were married in December 1949; we were married twice, first on the 13th by the justice of the peace, and by the church on the 26th. Lucky me, now I had two anniversaries to remember!

Elfrida, I and her mother Elfrida lived approximately 10 years in England when a good friend, John Kocins, (who had already immigrated to Canada) told us about the opportunities in Canada and talked us into immigrating. So, in 1958 we immigrated to Canada to once again start a new life. Elfrida and I arrived in Montreal by ship in 1958. We could see a celebration was occurring, so we asked a policeman walking by and found out it was Canada’s birthday. It was a sign, a good sign. Approximately 2 years later we sponsored Elfrida’s mom to come to Canada.

We ended up in Edmonton, Alberta, and for 51 years it was our home. During this time, we kept in touch with the Latvian community and organizations like Imanta. I played the accordion for the Latvian folk dance club in Edmonton and involved in the German Club as we loved to dance. We also did what we could to help the Latvians in our homeland of Latvia. We loved to camp and explore Alberta. My love of music continued, and my accordion accompanied us to many parties. We had many good times and loads of memories with friends who became the families we lost.

My first job in Edmonton was a job Dry Walling. I then worked at a service station for a year; then became a subcontractor for drywalling – this was to be my profession until I retired.

One of my greatest joys was to see the walls come tumbling down in 1989 in the Soviet Union. Once again, we were able to hear from family and friends who survived the war. Unfortunately, I found out that my mom had died in 1987, I was however able to contact a cousin. We made our first trip back to our homeland in 1992. We were excited and sad at the same time as Elfrida’s mom had died and we were bringing her ashes back to be buried in her beloved homeland. On the happier side, we were able to get in touch with my cousin and Elfirda’s relatives and had one heck of a reunion! We were lucky enough to make it back to Latvia for two more trips.

In 2009 we decided to move to Lake Isle into a mother-in-law cottage in the backyard of Elfrida’s goddaughter Rita, and her husband Allan. With us under their wing and them under ours, we spent a lot of time together.

We went on lots of road trips within Alberta and the interior of BC. The biggest trip was to Alaska. This was on my bucket list, and Elfrida’s goal (I think) was to keep trying to catch Allan peeing around the other side of the motorhome. We had many good laughs and even brought home an Alaskan sled dog, Chena.

At home in the evening after supper we would play a game called aggravation, sorry to some, to us it was became known as six, or KILL them. We would race around the board killing each other before we got the marbles home. When I say kill, I mean we would literally go out of our way to send everyone back to base.

We travelled together, laughed together, teased each other, and taught each other bad habits. I could drive them all crazy with my sweet tooth, like just a little bread with my jam, or a little pancake with my syrup. This would drive Allan crazy, or I would drive Rita crazy saying the opposite to what she was saying like black when she said white. Rita took great joy in teaching me what wedges and raspberries were and any other tortures she could think of. Allan my ally would just shake his head and laugh… some ally.

We were given the names Grandma and Grandpa because of Rita and Allan’s babies (pets), we loved and enjoyed spoiling them all. They all brought us great joy… that include Rita and Allan.

In 2016 Elfrida’s health had deteriorated and she ended up in a continuing care facility in Evansburg, AB, the Pembina Village. I remained with Rita and Allan in the mother-in-law cottage. Luckily it was close enough for Elfrida to come home every weekend. I ended up in the same facility in 2019, and Elfrida was 4 doors down so we could spend much time together.

I leave behind Allan and Rita Andres and their pets; Karl and Christine Kleasans and their boys Jared and David.