Wilfred Gregory "Wilf" Tschirhart

1921 - 2017  (96 years)

• Name	Wilfred Gregory "Wilf" Tschirhart
  Born	2 Sep 1921	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Military	WW2
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-72541
  Died	20 Sep 2017	St. Agatha, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Cemetery, St. Agatha, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I72541	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	William Tschirhart,   b. 4 Oct 1891, Bamberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Margaret Huck,   b. 1887, Formosa, Culross Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	31 Aug 1915	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Family ID	F54502	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Sheridan,   b. 1919,   d. 1999, Freeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Married	Jun 1955
  Children	1. Chris Tschirhart   2. Mary Jane Tschirhart
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F54501	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  LIFETIMES: Wilf Tschirhart loved learning, got PhD at 88 Wilfred (Wilf) Tschirhart of St. Agatha, born: Sept. 2, 1921 in Kitchener, died: Sept. 20, 2017, age related Wilf Tschirhart was never a man who did the expected. Take his education. As a kid, Wilf spent hours poking around in the Nith River exploring nature, instead of being in class. Even when he did take in a full day of school, he couldn't wait for the bell to ring in his one room New Hamburg schoolhouse so he could race down to the river's edge. Everything about nature fascinated him, particularly animal behaviour. Skip ahead nearly eight decades and there he was on the podium at Wilfrid Laurier University's convocation accepting a PhD in geography and environmental science. Wilf was 88 and obviously wasn't looking toward a career in the sciences, but he had achieved something remarkable and was thought to be the school's oldest graduating PhD student. The year was 2009 and Wilf was interviewed by the Record about his achievement. His explanation as to why he wanted to complete advance degrees in his 80s was simple: "Doing nothing is like practising for death," he said. "You have to work your brain every day."..... Wilf was born in Kitchener, one of six kids. But his parents moved to a Haysville farm one cold winter when he was three, perhaps the first time he exhibited a strong-willed determination to not follow the crowd or in this case, his family.... Wilf found a job with N.O. Heipel, a Preston contractor that specialized in building community arenas all over Ontario, but it was while working in North York that he found more than a new project to oversee. "He met a little Irish lady," said Chris, referring to his mother, Elizabeth Sheridan. The couple met at a church concert. Elizabeth was already seated when poor Wilf came along, disappointed that the assigned row shown on his ticket was already filled. Elizabeth made the whole row scooch over so Wilf could sit down. They married in June 1955, and moved into the bungalow on Hidden Valley Road that Wilf had been building long before he met Elizabeth. That little house and its numerous additions '97 it seemed Wilf was never really satisfied the house was done '97 would be home to the couple and their children for many years.... It had been while working on his first degree that Wilf's life took a sad turn. Elizabeth developed Alzheimer's. "He'd looked after her for five years," said Chris, adding that when his mother finally had to move into long-term care at Freeport Hospital, Wilf would come to the hospital twice a day to feed her. After Elizabeth died in 1999, Wilf set up a university scholarship at his alma mater, in her name. Throughout his senior years Wilf remained unstoppable, despite a hip replacement, arthritis in every joint and deafness in one ear, the result of a military training accident. He simply learned to read lips and rely on a hearing aid in his less damaged ear. ... Hill, V. (2017). LIFETIMES: Wilf Tschirhart loved learning, got PhD at 88 | TheRecord.com. TheRecord.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017, from https://www.therecord.com/living-story/7587630-lifetimes-wilf-tschirhart-loved-learning-got-phd-at-88/ _______________________ Wilfred Gregory (PhD TSCHIRHART TSCHIRHART, Wilfred Gregory (PhD) September 2,1921 - September 20, 2017 Died at his home in St. Agatha. Survived by his brother-in-law Earl Querin, many loved nieces and nephews. Father of Christopher of Markdae, and Mary Jane Baulk of St. Agatha. Loving Grandfather to Jessica Mendes (Phil), and Rebecca Baulk (Jesse Brideau). Predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth (nee Sheridan) of 46 years. Predeceased by his parents, William and Margarethe (nee Huck), brothers, Roy (Marie), Walter (Dolly), Carl (Grace), Joe, and his sister, Rita. Born in Kitchener, Ontario and grew up on a farm at Haysville, Ontario during the Great Depression. Having to leave school after grade 10 to help support his family in the 1930's to become a carpenter; he always longed to return to school. Wilf served in the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Engineers, service and works company, in WW II, achieving the rank of Sergeant Major. After the war, he spent his early career in the construction industry, in building design as works Forman for N.O. Heipel of Preston. Wilf achieved a structural Engineering certificate. He was the designer and construction foreman in the building of many hockey arenas throughout Ontario, which are still standing, including Waterloo, Ayr, Godrich, East York, Burlington, South Porcupine, Gore Bay, Little Current, Providence Bay, and Mindemoya. It was while overseeing the construction of the East York Arena that he met his wife Elizabeth, the love of his life, while attending a concert at St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto. Married in Toronto, they lived in the house he built for his family on Hidden Valley Road, which he expanded as the family grew; a wonderful place for our family to live and grow up. He worked as a Sr. Mechanical Draftsman at Canadian Blower and Forge in Kitchener for over 30 years. Wilf volunteered as a teaching assistant at St. Agatha Catholic School and as a care giver at Freeport Hospital. Always a believer in education in all its forms both practical and informal throughout his life, he fulfilled his dream of higher education after retirement by attending Wilfrid Laurier University, where he was adopted by the students in all his classes. He was conferred a Bachelor of Arts 1993, Honours Bachelor of Arts 1999, Master of Arts 2002 and Doctorate of Arts 2009, all in the field of Environmental Studies and Geography. At age 88 he was the third oldest person to achieve a Doctorate from an accredited University. Special thanks to the support workers, and his wonderful neighbours who looked out for him in recent years. Your kindness and caring will always be remembered. Wilfred's family will receive relatives and friends from 2: 00 p.m. - 4: 00 p.m. and 7: 00 p.m. - 9: 00 p.m. on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home , 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-749-8467. A Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. Agatha R.C. Church, 1839 Notre Dame Rd. St Agatha, on Monday, September 25, 2017 at 11: 00 a.m. Interment at St. Agatha Catholic Cemetery. Reception to follow in the church hall. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Wilfred Laurier University - Elizabeth Tschirhart Award would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home). Visit www.henrywalser.com for Wilfred's memorial.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 2 Sep 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 20 Sep 2017 - St. Agatha, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Cemetery, St. Agatha, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth