Ernst (Ernie) Josef Frank Weigel

May 1, 1925 - January 16, 2017

Ernie died peacefully in the Jubilee Hospital, predeceased by wife Doris in 2011 & survived by daughters Dorene (Clark), Lynda (Wayne) & Cathy (Terry), grandchildren Ryan, Morgan, Karrie & Lindsay, & 6 great grandchildren.

Ernie started life as a Sudeten German, born in Gablonz, Czechoslovakia, in the Sudetenland region of northern Bohemia. His father was actively involved in an anti-Nazi political party so to avoid arrest, he fled the Sudetenland before it was occupied by Germany October 1, 1938, finding asylum in England. Here the family was reunited shortly before immigrating to Canada in May, 1939. They were among the 518 Sudeten refugees who settled at Tate Creek (Tomslake) near Dawson Creek, transforming bushland into farmland. After 1 year of school Ernie had various jobs, working 5 years as a section hand for the Northern Alberta Railways. He moved to Whitehorse in 1951 to work as a welder in the Canadian Army’s maintenance shop for the Alaska Highway. Here Ernie met Doris; they married in 1954 & moved to Victoria in1956, where he worked as a welder with Yarrow’s Shipbuilding for 31 years. Ernie was athletic, his favorite sport soccer, & an avid gardener. He was a member of Centennial United Church for 60 years.

A Celebration of Life for Ernie will be held at Centennial (612 David Street, Victoria) February 3 at 2:00 p.m., reception to follow.