Mayor William George "Billy" Weichel, MP

Other Events:

• Name: Billy Weichel
• Name: W. G. Weichel
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-41204
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1896, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Hardware Store
• Photograph Individual: 1903
• Residence: 1905, Allen St. E., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant, Hardware
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Elected Office: 1922, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mayor of Waterloo, Ontario
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Waterloo businessman and politician Billy Weichel was known as the Old Warrior; his most memorable battle being the federal election of 1911 when he defeated William Lyon Mackenzie King. Weichel defeated King, who was the labour minister in the Liberal Laurier government, by 315 votes to win Waterloo North for the Conservatives. It was believed that Weichel won on the issue of free trade with the United States. Weichel's Conservatives opposed reciprocity at a time when Kitchener-Waterloo manufacturers and labourers feared an influx of cheap American goods

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Mr. Wm. G. Weichel is manager of the Waterloo store [M. Weichel and son]. Under his management the business, which comprises practically similar lines of goods as are kept in Elmira, is constantly increasing and gaining in favor. The large quantities of goods required by the firm, enables them to place their orders on the most advantageous terms.

Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, published by George Klinck, 1903.

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W. G. Weichel, born in Elmira, July 20th, 1870, resided in Elmira until he was twenty, and then left for Galt, where he was employed in Shurly & Dietrich's factory as shipping clerk for three years and then represented them as traveller on the road for the next four years. Bought out a hardware business in the town of Waterloo from J. W. Fear & Co., formerly occupied by N. Killer & Son, under the firm name of M. Weichel & Son, which firm at that time was operating a store and is at the present time operating a store in Elmira. Was President of the Board of Trade in 1908, and President of the Canadian Club of Berlin and Waterloo for 1910. Served in the Town Council as Councillor for two years, one year as Deputy Reeve, and was elected Mayor by acclamation after the death of Levi Graybill, the former Mayor. On September 21st, 1911, was elected member of the House of Commons, defeating the former Minister of Labor, the Hon. W. L. M. King. A popular, aggressive member, who serves his constituency faithfully. Always on the job\emdash courteous and thorough. A public man of sterling worth to the Dominion.


Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912, Berlin, Ontario, The German Printing and Publishing Co

William married Jessie Rose Kinsman 19 Aug 1896, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Jessie (daughter of Richard Kinsman and Isabella, daughter of Richard H. Kinsman and Isabella McCulloch Grant) was born 9 Feb 1873, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 4 Jun 1926; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

William married Minnie Rose Kaitting 19 Sep 1928, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Minnie (daughter of George C. Kaitting and Isabella Kinsman) was born 13 Nov 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 23 Dec 1984, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Jessie Norine Stauffer
• Name: Norine Weichel
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-41206
• Residence: 1905, Allen St. E., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Jessie married Noah Abram "Abe" Stauffer 23 Sep 1926, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Noah (son of Obal Betzner Stauffer and Magdalena Hallman) was born 7 Jun 1900, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 19 Jan 1992, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Memory Gardens Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Minota Margaret "Minnie" Hagey
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-101510
• Residence: 1905, Allen St. E., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Minota — Dr. Joseph Gerald "Gerry" Hagey. Joseph (son of Menno Hagey and Esther A. Cornell) was born 28 Sep 1904, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 26 Oct 1988, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-193596
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-164754

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-133105

Other Events:

• Name: Jack Hagey
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-101508

Notes:

JOHN (JACK) HAGEY

Jack Hagey was born into a family of achievers, people well used to the public limelight. How difficult then for this reserved and unassuming man to create a life that would become both deeply influenced by them, yet separate. He needed to find his own path. Jack's father, J. Gerald Hagey, was founding president of the University of Waterloo, a visionary who developed the country's first co-op university program.

Jack's mother, Minota, was also an influential community member and there is a university residence named in her honour. Her father, William Weichel, was a member of provincial Parliament. 'In his own quiet way, he was quite the opposite of his father,' said Jack's wife, Barbara, of her unfailingly private husband. Jack was also honest, a kind man who preferred the relative obscurity of his accountancy practice to public life.

Sister Anne Rektor, a Catholic nun, met Jack by happenstance in a parking lot one day when he was there with a mutual acquaintance. The two were introduced and there was an immediate rapport. As he worked his way through two years of cancer, Sister Anne helped him cope, though he wasn't Catholic. She laughs as she recalls how she referred to herself as 'Jack's nun.'

'He had a faith that was simple, singular and adherent,' she said. 'He lived his life so quietly.' She also remembered his humility, how he never boasted about his family background. Jack, the youngest of two boys, completed an undergraduate degree at Waterloo College, now part of Wilfrid Laurier University. He initially thought about a high school teaching career, but daughter Laura recalled that her father feared his small stature and boyish looks would make it difficult to gain the student's respect.

He instead joined an accounting firm and completed his certified accountancy program, eventually entering a partnership. A man who preferred routine, Jack was a creature of habit and a logical thinker. He was also a man who thrived on work. 'He worked until he was 72, until he was diagnosed (with cancer),' said Laura.
His devotion to the job paid off in professional and financial success, but Jack never desired the fancy cars or homes.

Everything about him was modest. He just wanted to do well enough to care for his family, to leave them a healthy legacy. Laura describes her father as a people person, someone who liked to please others and would never offend. She didn't see him angry, never heard him swear.

Jack and Barbara met on a blind date and though they hit it off, it would be a few years before Barbara completed her nursing training and returned from one year of working in Western Canada. They eventually grew serious and five years after first meeting, married Sept. 9, 1960, having two daughters, Laura and Margie.

'As a dad, we had a lot of fun together,' said Laura, a self-confessed tomboy who rode with her dad on his motorcycle, fished in ponds and convinced him to buy her boy's skates after her mother signed her up for figure skating.

He was also an incurable 'gadget guy,' always looking forward to the next Canadian National Exhibition where he'd get the latest doodad. Laura said he'd play around with it then it would be relegated to a closet somewhere while he eagerly anticipated the next gadget.

Jack also enjoyed the racetrack, Woodbine and Elmira, and he liked the casino, though he wasn't much of a gambler. Perhaps it was the excitement he was drawn to, something he avoided in his daily life.
Laura said her dad wasn't the overtly emotional type.

'He was really a down-to-earth kind of man' but there was never any question he loved his family.
Diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2005, doctors predicted he had one year but Jack managed to steal a second year through sheer determination and alternative remedies. He was practical, but also open minded.

Sister Anne concluded her friend Jack was unique, someone who appreciated the 'tiniest little kindness' anyone did for him.

Jack Hagey leaves behind his wife Barbara, daughters Laura and Margie and three grandchildren.


The Record Newpaper, May 17, 2007