Obituary of Reinhold Korok

Reinhold Korok, a long-time resident of Dawson Creek, BC, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 8, 2018 in Dawson Creek, at the age of 86 years.

Reinhold was born on December 19, 1931 in the small village of Skorkowka Poland. He was the youngest child of a family of eight. He grew up in a loving home with his mother Lidja, father Ludwig and sisters Wanda and Emmy.

They all lived on the family farm where Reinhold’s job was herding the cattle and getting into trouble. He had a very mischievous personality much to his sister’s dismay, but in his papa’s eyes he could do no wrong.

They stayed on the farm until January 15, 1945 where they fled the advancing Russian army and escaped into East Germany. They were accepted into a refugee camp in Maebendorf and Reinhold and his parents stayed in the area till 1952. It was during this time in Germany that dad apprenticed as a machinist and honed his skills of making something out of nothing.

Dad and his parents for the second time had to escape Russian Occupation in order to Immigrate to Canada. They boarded a train with tickets to a city 80km past Berlin. When they arrived in the East Berlin Station, they caught a different train into West Berlin than carried onto Suel West Germany where they completed their immigration process. In May 1952 they boarded the Bieberbrae in Hamburg and sailed off to Canada. They arrived in Montreal then caught a train to Wetaskiwin, Alberta where they met his cousin Linda and Ewald Schmidt who were their Canadian sponsors. After a short stay they completed their journey to Dawson creek where his sisters and family were waiting for him.

Dad was living with his sister Emmy and brother in-law Alex for the first few years. It was at this time that a young German girl named Elfriede started working at the dry cleaners with Emmy.

She was cute Reinhold was handsome so in the summer of 1955 they were introduced at a Tomslake dance. The story goes that dad couldn’t take his eyes off her and on December 26, 1956 they were married.

They had started building their home in the summer of 1956 and with only two rooms completed they moved in on one of the coldest winters on record. To no surprise, the following year their daughter Judy (Jutta) was born.

Dad had a few jobs. He worked as a machinist in Edmonton for a short time. When he moved to Dawson Creek, he worked on the railroad with his brother in-law Walter for a few years.

Then he was hired by Lawrence’s Packing Plant where he stayed till his retirement in January 1997.

My growing up years are filled with dad always being busy tinkering or building something. I think my most profound memory is him digging out the basement in their first home by hand with a shovel. Needless to say, that task took many years. When they had their second home built next door to their first one, he spent his time gardening, building patios and making the city’s largest wood pile. Dad always required a second pair of hands, or so he said, and I loved working with him. During the winter Dad and I would play cards, go on the toboggan rides with our dog Lucky (who pulled the toboggan) or played countless games on ping pong in our basement. He tried to teach me chess, unsuccessfully, but did pass the love of the game onto his nephews and grandson.

Both mom and dad loved to travel. Every summer we would pull the trailer down to Penticton and spend our vacation at Skaha Lake. In later years Don and I went with them to Hawaii, Mexico and the Maritimes. They traveled on their own to Germany and into the United States.

But the most fun was the time spent camping on the weekends with the grandchildren, playing cards, fishing or just going for walks and talking.

Dad adored his grandchildren. He loved playing with them listening to their stories and teasing them. He liked to watch them play hockey, speed skate, piano and do their dance recital. He never missed a birthday, and his favorite time of year was Christmas. Christmas just wasn’t Christmas unless we were at his house with the kids putting the presents under the tree.

Dad and Mom moved out of the family home and into their retirement home at Fireside Glen in 2013. Dad suffered his first stroke that fall but had a full recovery. When mom passed away in May of 2014, the stress was too great, and he suffered his second stroke. He lived with Don and I for about one year then moved into Northview Assisted living in June 2015. He enjoyed his time there. He participated in activities like crocono, went on outings and even dressed up in costumes for Easter, Fall Fair days and so on. It was home to him and I want to say a special thankyou to all the staff there who took such good care of him. words can not express my deep appreciation for all you have done.

Dad was a kind, gentle spirited man, who was like by all who knew him, loved by his family and especially loved by his lord and savior Jesus Christ. His heavenly father carried dad peacefully home on December 8, 2018.

I thank god that he was blessed our family with such a wonderful and loving Opa and Dad. We will hold you in our hearts forever, We Love you Dad.

A Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 1:00 pm at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dawson Creek, BC. Reverend Kenneth Eifert officiated. Interment followed in the Brookside Cemetery.

For friends so wishing donations may be made in memory of Reinhold to the Canadian Lutheran World Relief, 80 East 10 Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 4R5.

Very respectfully Reynars funeral Home and crematorium Dawson Creek, B.C.