Irvin Edwin Erb

Other Events:

• Military: WW1
• Residence: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-116653P
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Broker, ?
• Residence: 1921, 26 Bingeman St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Irvin E. Erb, who was born in Elmira, lived in Berlin from age two, became interested in rugby, hockey and baseball as a participant at an early age and played on Frank Selke's Union Jack Junior Hockey team in Berlin in 1914. Through the years, as a player and promoter, he made a tremendous contribution to amateur sports.

Following service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force in World War I he established an insurance agency in Kitchener.

He directed the first Poppy Day and was partly responsible for the erection of the cenotaph, now located at the corner of Duke and Frederick Streets in Kitchener. In 1929 he was a co-promoter with C.D. "Buller" Pequegnat in the building.


Waterloo Region Hall of Fame


_____________________________


Irvin Erb, sportsman and active K-W citizen

Irvin Erb, a Kitchener insurance agent for more than 65 years, sportsman and founding member of the Air Cadet League of Canada, died today at his Waterloo home. He was 94. One of the Twin Cities most colorful and outspoken citizens, Erb was a descendant of early Waterloo County settlers, born in Elmira and brought to Berlin (Kitchener) in 1899. He was active in sports, beginning a career in organized hockey in 1914, when, at 17, he played for Frank Selke's Kitchener Union Jacks. As a player, Erb was a defensive star, checking tenaciously. He also played with the 1922 Kitchener Intermediate OHA championship team and was manager of the intermediates (then Panthers) in 1928 when they went to the OHA finals. In 1914, Erb, who was the first tire adjuster for Dominion Tire Co., now Uniroyal, was transferred to Toronto. There, he played for the Parkdale Canoe Club where two National Hockey League stars spotted his talent. He was subsequently offered contracts with both the St. Pats (now the Maple Leafs) and also with the Montreal Maroons for $750 a year, plus free hockey sticks. He had to provide his own skates. He declined because he planned to establish his own business. Even last year, at 93, Erb attended hockey games regularly at the Auditorium. During the Depression, he supported the establishment of the Rockway golf course. At one time, Erb also held the Kitchener junior, senior and intermediate hockey franchises and coached lacrosse teams. In 1925, his father, Ephriam, joined him in his insurance business. Irvin continued to operate Erb and Erb Insurance until 1971 when he sold it to two long-time employees.

Erb was the first president of the Kitchener Lions Club which he founded in 1937 and of No. 80 Squadron; Kitchener-Waterloo Air Cadets. In June 1990, Erb helped squadron members celebrate its 50th anniversary. He and the late C.D. (Buller) Pequegnat spearheaded the drive for the city's first municipal swimming pool. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War, forerunner of the Royal Air Force and was commissioned as a lieutenant. He went to England where he served as a gunner and observer on coastal patrol. Throughout his life, Erb was a devout Christian and protested sex and obscenity in movies on many occasions. In 1977, he told Waterloo council that considering its population, the city was the worst spot in Canada for rampant smut. He begged council to take steps to banish pornographic literature, erotic movies and strippers. He directly attributed the increase in on-stage nudity to the influx of university students who are "ready to disrobe themselves under any circumstances." He told council nudity was spreading like wildfire. During the Second World War, Erb tried to enlist at 42 but was turned down. He went to Ottawa in 1941 where he helped to organize the Air Cadet League of Canada. In Kitchener, he directed the first Poppy Day for the Prince of Wales Chapter, Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, and was instrumental in having the first memorial erected to the war dead. The five-metre cross was placed in front of the the former city hall. He also helped to organize a committee to build a cenotaph and was secretary of the committee. A member of the Westmount Golf and Country Club, the Granite Curling Club, an honorary member of the Lions Club and of the 404 Wing of the RCAF Association, Erb also belonged to the Kitchener Branch 50 of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Royal Air Force Club of London, England. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, two daughters, one son and three sisters. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Kitchener.

Kitchener-Waterloo Record 29 Oct 1991 pg A10

Irvin — Selma Elizabeth "Sally" Meyschein. Selma was born 20 Aug 1907, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died 27 Sep 1999, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Public Cemetery, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Catherine — John Charleton Howard. [Group Sheet]

Margaret — Robert Areson "Bob" Carr. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-352660

Notes:

ERB, John Edwin Erb - Reverend Canon, Executive Director, Anglican Foundation. 13 September, 1932 - 31 July, 2005. "We have lots of love, friendship, family; we are blessed."These were some of John's last words, given through a wonderful smile, as his magnificent brain was being ravaged by the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.John was born in Kitchener to the late Irvin and Sally Erb (nee Meyschein). He will always be missed by his adored children, Nicholas and Katie; his wife, Didy (nee Bradish) of 29 years; his loving sisters and brothers-in-law, Cathie and John Howard, Hornby Island, B.C. and Margie and Bob Carr, Hamilton. John The Giant was a special uncle to Stephen Howard and Rhonda Spence, Emily Howard and Alex Lavigne; Tom Howard and Landys Klyne; Mary Howard, Stewart, Duncan, Will and Angus Murray; Sally Howard, Jim and Tommy Hamaguchi; Sarah Carr; Tim Carr and Kate Feightner; Pat Carr, Nadine Heintz and Oliver Carr and friend David Hughes. His many Erb and Meyschein family cousins love him and will miss him.A passionate Canadian, John was a leader, Anglican Priest, teacher, traveler, camper and actor. Until his late teens John was a member of Trinity United, the Erb family's church, where he grew up in the Sunday School. He attended "Young People's" both there and at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church. When he returned after working for a year in England, he joined the confirmation class at St. John. Thus began his journey to become an Anglican priest. Graduating from the Kitchener Public School system and Wilfred Laurier University, he received his early theological training from Trinity College. He continued graduate studies in later years in Boston, Virginia and Jerusalem.John's ministry began at St. Aidan's in 1965. In 1967 his strong identification with young people led him to a truly successful period as Director of Youth for the Church of England, both in Guyana, SA. and then in the UK. John returned to Canada with Didy in December 1973 and continued his ministries, first at Grace Church on the Hill, then at St. Luke's East York. In 1981 he became Rector of St. Michael and All Angels, where he embraced all, and many saw him as more than a pastor. He retired from St. Michael's in 1997. For the past seven years John's energetic leadership has been devoted to the Anglican Foundation of Canada, a work he loved. It enabled him to travel the length and breadth of this country, often visiting parishes in small communities, and as in all of his previous work, met wonderful dedicated people and established lasting friendships and respect everywhere.Throughout his working life John participated on many Boards and Committees focusing on community outreach, and has helped develop programs such as Out Of The Cold, Street Haven for battered women and Christie Gardens, and has worked to encourage interfaith ministry. His robust leadership has been recognized and honoured in many ways including the 125th Anniversary Medal of Canada; Member and former Chaplain, Order of St. John Ambulance, Serving Brother- St. John of Jerusalem; Chaplaincy appointments to The Royal Society of Physicians and Surgeons, The Canadian Club of Toronto, The Benchers and The Order of St. Lazarus.His personal passions are his family, his ministry, the theatre, ballet, opera, the family cottage at Oliphant and the Taize Retreat in France.During his hospital confinement John and his family were enormously moved by those many friends, acquaintances and co-workers old and new, who visited during his last days. Literally, they came by the hundreds from all spectrums of society to reminisce, renew friendships and offer their love and support. Nothing could have made more visible the lasting impact John had on so many lives. We will always be grateful for the kindness and incredible care given to John and his family by all the caregivers in the Palliative Care Unit at St. Michaels Hospital.In lieu of flowers, please join John in his living legacy for theological education through his work at the Anglican Foundation of Canada (80 Hayden St., Toronto, M4Y 3G2), or to the charity of your choice.Visitation will be at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave., between Yonge and Avenue Rd., 1-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, August 5th. The funeral will be held at St. James Cathedral, King St. East at Church St. at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 6th. A service preceding interment in Woodland Cemetery will be held in Kitchener at the Church of St. John The Evangelist, Water St., north of King St. on Monday, August 8 at 11: 30 a.m. Reception at 10: 30 a.m. in the Church Hall.

THE RECORD, Kitchener, Ontario - Aug. 3, 2005