Julius Fred Poffenroth

1912 - 2011  (98 years)

• Name	Julius Fred Poffenroth
  Born	5 Sep 1912	Calgary, Alberta, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Employment	Abt 1946	Great West Felt Co., Elmira, Ontario
  Military	WW2
  Residence	1961	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-73422P
  Died	19 Jan 2011  [1, 2]
  Buried	Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Person ID	I73422	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	John Poffenroth,   b. Abt 1870, Of, Calgary, Alberta ,   d. 1960  (Age ~ 90 years)
  Mother	Matilda Redmann,   b. Abt 1870, Of, Calgary, Alberta ,   d. 1936  (Age ~ 66 years)
  Family ID	F31747	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Agnes Link,   b. 1914,   d. 8 Sep 2002, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 88 years)
  Married	6 Aug 1943  [2]
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F29914	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Julius Poffenroth Obituary picture

  
  

• Notes

  Julius Poffenroth was a friend to many Julius Poffenroth loved the Calgary Stampede. Poffenroth, who grew up in Calgary, was born on the last day of the Stampede, the year it first started in 1912. Poffenroth, who died on Jan. 19, never missed a chance to go back to Alberta - and "he always planned his trips so he could go to the Stampede," according to his son Allan. On a recent visit, Poffenroth had the chance to go on stage during a Stampede show, because of that personal connection. It was the kind of thing that Poffenroth liked - the chance to have a good story to share with family and friends, when he got back home. Poffenroth had his share of stories to tell - including the one where he was sitting in a café in Paris, when Jack Benny walked by, or talking about living on the high seas during the Second World War, with 11,000 soldiers on the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth ships. These stories were often shared over a Sunday dinner at son Allan's house, a weekly ritual that will be sorely missed, now that Poffenroth has passed away. Poffenroth's stories come from an era where many Canadian men had more than their share of adventure, because of the Second World War. It was the same for Poffenroth. While he grew up in Alberta, he ended up seeing a fair bit of the world. Poffenroth worked at a coal mine in British Columbia in the 1930s, until it was closed down after striking workers demanded better working conditions. He then got a job with the forestry, fighting forest fires, and even bussed tables at Chateau Lake Louise, before joining the army in 1943. Throughout this time, Poffenroth had been dating Agnes Link, over a period of 12 to 13 years. "He wasn't one to make decisions in a hurry," said Allan. "Shortly after they married, he left and went overseas." Poffenroth served overseas in England, France, Holland, and Germany, although he saw very little action, serving as a quartermaster in the army, drawing on his previous experience of overseeing shipping at a warehouse. When the war was over, Poffenroth made a stop in Elmira on his way home. His sister Frances had married Charlie Weichel - a grandson of Mike Weichel, founder of Weichel Hardware, and moved to Elmira. While here, Poffenroth was offered a job at the Great West Felt Company. He sent for Agnes, and they moved to Elmira. In 1947, Allan was born, during one of the year's vicious snow storms. He is one of the few people who have actually been born in Elmira, as there was no way to make it to the hospital during the storm. A few years later, Allan's sister Faye was born. Poffenroth worked at Great West Felt until it closed around 1950, and then went on to work at Canada Health and Accident Assurance company in Waterloo. He finished out his working years at Uniroyal Chemical (now Chemtura) until his retirement. Throughout it all, Poffenroth maintained a strong connection to the community. He was a volunteer firefighter from 1946 to 1955, fighting one of the town's major fires in 1948 that destroyed several downtown buildings. He also enjoyed the Elmira Legion, visiting as often as he could. In later years, he would go less often, but was still a regular on Friday afternoons - so much so, that when he was hospitalized in early January, members would pour a beer and leave it sitting in Poffenroth's spot. "He was a fixture there," said Allan. Poffenroth, who lived to the ripe old age of 98, lived on his own right up until the last days, when he was hospitalized. "He just sort of wore out, and got weak," said Allan. The day Poffenroth died was the day he finally signed the papers to get admitted to a nursing home. "It was wonderful he could live alone for so long," said Allan. Poffenroth enjoyed regular visits from Debbie Kilimnik, who "was like a daughter and granddaughter" to him, likely extending the time he could stay on his own. In the end, it is Poffenroth's ability to strike up friendships that will likely be missed most by the residents of Elmira. "He was an affable guy," said Allan. "People knew him and liked him." Poffenroth is survived by his son Allan and wife Darlyn. He was predeceased by his wife Agnes in 2002, and daughter Faye McAndrew in 2000. He was the last surviving member of his family. Elmira Independent February 1, 2011 Gail Martin - Independent Editor __________________________ POFFENROTH, Julius January 21, 2011 POFFENROTH, Julius Fred Julius, of Elmira, passed away on January 19, 2011. Born September 5, 1912, in Calgary, Alberta. He is survived by his son Allan and wife Darlyn, fondly remembered by grandchildren, Aaron and Taylor Poffenroth and Alanna, Kyle and Moira McAndrew. He will be missed by special friends Debbie, Jessie and his many Legion friends. Predeceased by his wife Agnes (Link) 2002, daughter Faye McAndrew 2000 and her husband Dennis 1986. He was the last surviving member of his family. Predeceased by his parents John 1960 and Matilda Redmann 1936, and siblings Edward Uveida, Amelia Uveida (Kaiser), Elizabeth (Stone), Lydia (Kneeshaw), Frederika (Frances Weichel), Rosa (de Caux) and Gustav. He grew up in the Riverside district of Calgary, Alberta. During his twenties, he worked in B.C. coal mining and fighting forest fires. He married Agnes Link in 1943 and served in the Canadian Army overseas during World War II. He returned to Canada in 1946 and settled in Elmira. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Elmira and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 469 Elmira. The family will receive friends and relatives at the Dreisinger Funeral Home , 62 Arthur St. S., Elmira, on Sunday, January 23, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Royal Canadian Legion will assemble at the funeral home for a service Sunday at 6: 45 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Monday, January 24, at 1: 30 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Elmira, with Rev. Richard Frey officiating, followed by burial at Elmira Union Cemetery. Following the burial, friends are invited to share fellowship at the Legion (11 First St. E., Elmira) from 3-5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kiwanis Club of Elmira (Trees for Elmira) would be appreciated by the family as expressions of sympathy. www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com The Waterloo Regin Record 20 Jan 2011

  
  

• Sources

  [S602] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - The Waterloo Region Record (March 2008- ), Obituary of Julius Poffenroth - 20 Jan 2011. [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link. Julius Fred/ 1912 - / [Wedding rings] Aug. 6, 1943/ Agnes Link/ 1914 - 2002 [Back] Poffenroth [S77] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Signet (1893-1982), Obituary of Frances Poffenroth Weichel - Mar 1 1961 pg 5.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 Sep 1912 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada Employment - Abt 1946 - Great West Felt Co., Elmira, Ontario Residence - 1961 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth