Obituary of Erika Gebhart

Erika Gebhart, a long time resident of Tomslake, B.C., passed away on Monday, February 8, 2016 in Grande Prairie, AB at the age of 93 years. Erika Seitner was born on Tuesday, July 25, 1922 in Freidrichsdorf, Czechoslovakia. She was the third youngest child of five siblings born to parents Alois and Ida Seitner. Erika's family escaped their homeland and found asylum in Canada. Their family sailed on the fifth of nine transports, leaving Liverpool on the "Duchess of York" on June 2, 1939. She would celebrate her 17th birthday in Canada. The Duchess of York docked in Montreal, Quebec and they made their way across Canada by rail to Edmonton, Alberta. From there they travelled to Tupper, BC. This area would become Erika's new lifelong home. They were not familiar with farming or working with livestock. Her first farm learning experience came through daily life on the Seitner homestead working with cattle and sheep, helping with the cooking and household chores, and planting and nurturing the family garden. During the early years, Erika boarded with the Adams family in Beaverlodge, Alberta for about two and a half years. She looked after their three young children, plus cooking and cleaning. Erika married Richard Gebhart in June of 1943 in the church that still stands in Tomslake today. Richard worked away and it was Erika and the children who worked the farm. She became well experienced with horses, operating, and servicing every piece of equipment on the farm. Milking cows twice a day, shipping milk, seeding and harvesting, haying, and livestock care, and looking after her family all became a very big part of her life. All of this combined with school and community events kept everyone busy, seven days a week. There were no strangers at Erika's table. There was always room for more, regardless of the occasion and often included people who arrived unannounced. She would bake bread, buns, and other treats often to be sent home with family and friends. Erika loved her garden and flowers. It provided her a place of solitude and time for herself in addition to being a food source. Knitting was another skilled attribute. Erika was predeceased by her husband Richard Gebhart, her parents Alois and Ida Seitner, her brothers Oswald Endlicher, and Erwin Seitner, and her sister Josephine Schoepke. Erika is survived by her children: Kurt Gebhart (Susan Hicks), Ruth (Herb) McMillan Werner (Isobel) Gebhart, Wilma (Dan) Brawner, Norma (Christian) Gunnlaugson, twelve grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a lifelong accumulation of friends and neighbors. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 1:00 PM from Reynars Chapel. Don Moore officiated. Interment was held at Tomslake Columbarium. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Erika to Tomslake Cemetery, PO Box 47, Tomslake, BC. V0C 2L0. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium Memorial Service 1:00 pm Saturday, February 27, 2016 Reynars Funeral Chapel 1300 102nd Avenue Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada V1G 2C6