Obituary of Edwin Hazelwanter

It is with mixed feelings that we say good-bye to our Dad and Grampy. While we will miss him dearly, he has been released from the prison of dementia. Edwin passed peacefully on Friday, November 13, 2015 at City Hospital at the age of 86 with family members beside him. Eddie was born in a farmhouse near Bruno, SK. As the third oldest of 11 children, he always felt a strong sense of responsibility and loyalty to family. He looked out for his brothers and sisters and parents, both while he was at home and after he left. Eddie was a journeyman carpenter for more than 60 years and built houses for his parents, helped his brothers enter the carpentry trade and helped out whenever and where ever he was needed. If there was something to be built, he was always right there to help, from doll houses to aquamarine swimming pools. Most of us have something that was built with his hands. This strong sense of family carried into his adult life and into his own family. Eddie married Eva (nee Postnikoff) in 1952 and raised three children together, Sharon, Dean and Carol. Dad and Mom always put their kids first and we always knew we were dearly loved. We remember (mostly fondly) the many trips to lakes and mountains that we went on and while Dad’s driving got us there, there were a few times we wondered if we would make it there or if we even wanted to go anymore. Dad always had our backs, even when we were on less than our best behaviour and we knew if he didn’t love what we were doing, he loved us. He put food on the table, a roof (which he built with his own hands) over our heads, clothes on our back and love in our hearts. It is with his grandchildren that he really allowed himself to be the gentle, funny and loving man he was. His grandchildren really brought out his playfulness. Things that he didn’t have time or energy to do with his children, he did with his grandchildren. This included rousing games of Trouble, putting on his old toupee (the “Mushrat”) to make the kids laugh, turning off lights to scare the kids during horror movies, and playing in the snow building snow forts. We will all remember him in his room, playing his guitar and singing, and often us kids and the grandkids would sit with him and listen. We will remember the Grampy hug (head bumps). We will remember that when we would ask him how he felt, he would often say “with my fingers” or what he was up to “oh, about 5’ 7” “. It is that kind of humour and those moments that we all carry with us and cherish. Dad’s last years were unfortunately impacted by dementia. As his memory faded, he kept his love for all of us and his humour. There are so many things we could mention about his life and his 86 years on earth, but what we will remember most is how much he loved us all and how funny he was. Edwin Randolph (“The Hatchet”– don’t ask) Hazelwanter will be lovingly remembered by his children Sharon (Al), Dean (Susan), and Carol; his grandchildren Nichole, Candace, Aaron, Amie (John), Tom, Rebecca, Matthew (Chelsea), Gina (Josh), Meagan (Chris), Desiree (Rich); and great-grandchildren Aeydan, Hannah, Gabriella, Jackson, Lily-Anna, Leona, Lucy, Caleb, Ethan, Kiahna and Madison. Eddie is survived by Eva; his brothers William, Ralph and Alois; his sisters Eileen, Verna and Charlotte. He was predeceased by his parents William and Anna; his brothers Alfred, Dennis and Larry; and his sister Lorraine. The family would like to thank the staff at Home Life Home Care and the Transitional Care Unit at City Hospital for their kindness and excellent care of Dad. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your favourite charity or do something nice to help someone out – it’s what he would have done.