With sadness, but thankfulness for a long life well lived, the family of Erwin Biener announce his sudden passing in his 91st year.  Beloved husband of 57 years to Helen (Booth) and dearest father to Janine and the late Jason.

Erwin was born in Schlesien, Germany to Paul and Edith Biener.  Together with his older sister Edith, he had a pleasant childhood.  A change in political climate changed life significantly when he was 10.  He moved to Bavaria and then Bückeburg, where he finished school and became a professional painter.  By 1955, he decided it was time to venture out in search of a new life in Canada.

With three words of English ("Have you yob?" i.e. job) Erwin arrived in Quebec City by boat on July 2, 1955 and quickly realized he may not actually need the long-johns that his grandmother insisted he pack in his bag.  From there, he took a train to Winnipeg where he immediately landed a job painting houses.  Six weeks later, he and two friends set out for Toronto.

For the rest of the summer, Erwin worked in tobacco fields in Bewdley, Ontario.  On October 4, 1955 he started a 40 year long career at Ford Motor Company in Oakville working his way from the line up to management.

In 1967, Erwin met Helen and officially became a part of the Booth family in 1968.  Together with Helen and her parents, Gordon and Mary, her siblings, Ralph (Joyce), Evelyn (Chuck) and Alice (Eef) and eventually many nieces and nephews, they shared many good times.

Erwin has worn many hats over his lifetime – painter, fisherman, hunter, violinist, saxophonist, pilot, skier, golfer, traveller.  Above all, there were none more important to him than husband and father.

Erwin was very involved in the ministries at Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville for a significant part of his life including board of managers, Elder, usher, accounting team and flipping pancakes at the annual pancake supper.

In 2000, Erwin travelled to Germany, visiting with his sister Edith, her husband Helmut and her children Detlev and Tabea.  Erwin came home from this trip with a renewed love for his homeland and many happy memories.

In 2006, Erwin was shocked, but thrilled, to discover that he had a younger sister, Barbara.  Within one month of this discovery he went to Germany to meet Barbara, his niece Antje (Thomas), and many other new family members.  Through his newfound sister, Erwin was also reconnected with cousins he hadn't been in touch with since his childhood.

Erwin loved to listen to music, tell jokes, be out in nature surrounded by birds and was always ready for adventure.  There is nothing he couldn't figure out or teach himself including English, home repairs and renovations.  He had a thirst for knowledge and knew something about probably everything.  Somehow he had the ability to retain it all.

He will forever be in our hearts and on our minds.

Visitation will be held at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home (64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville) on June 13th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Funeral service will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church (89 Dunn Street, Oakville) on June 14th at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Winnipeg Inner City Mission (415 Logan Avenue, Winnipeg) would be appreciated by the family.