Obituary for Wolfgang Johannes Bastert
We have lost an amazing person, Wolfgang Johannes Bastert, just days after his 92nd birthday.
Wolf is very sadly missed by his many friends and family. Wolf was very close to Ken and Deborah Clarke and Ken’s parents Ken and Peggy Clarke. He joined the Clarke family in 1985 and lived in Newburgh until 2003. He was a beloved grandfather figure to Harry and Alison Clarke. Wolf is also dearly missed by Nancy Doucet who stayed with and cared for Wolf in his final years, his nephew Wolfgang Bastert and family, his friends Reno and Pauline Torresan, Christl Reidel, Sylvia Filkins, Inez Powell, his former wife Ruth Ann and many others.
Wolf is the fourth son of Hermann Heinrich Wilhelm Bastert and Katharina Wilhelmine Johanne (Käthe) Bastert. Wolf was born in Wuppertal, Germany where his father worked as a protestant pastor.
Wolf had six brothers (eldest to youngest):
• Hermann, born in Wuppertal 1926, worked as a protestant pastor in Warburg, Germany, he died last year age 95
• Paul-Gerhard, born in Wuppertal 1927, worked as a protestant pastor in Oer Erkenschwick, Germany, he died in 1991
• Helmut, born in Wuppertal 1928, worked as a protestant pastor for the German marine, he died in 1989
• Hans-Martin, born in Wuppertal 1932, worked as an engineer at a company in Dortmund, Germany, he died last year age 89
• Horst, born in Wuppertal died as a baby in 1935
• Friedrich, born in Soest 1936, worked as a protestant pastor near Bonn, and continues to live near Bonn
The boys grew up in Soest. The family moved there because their father worked as a director of a Protestant institution helping women in need. ("Westfälische Frauenhilfe”).
Wolf decided to immigrate to Canada in 1960. He moved to Hamburg and worked at the harbour to earn the money for his emigration by ship. In Canada he graduated as an electrical technician and worked in the Cambridge, Woodstock and Toronto areas for CN Telecommunications.
Wolf loved to share stories and memories. He was a great friend, consoler, mentor, listener, and advisor. Wolf was also a life-long learner who liked nothing more than to share his vast general knowledge.
Wolf was a larger-than-life character. He was happy when working on projects which interested and challenged him such as restoring clocks, surfing the internet, growing plants, tending his garden, photography, canning and inventing. Some activities were to the amazement and genuine worry of his loved ones. Wolf took to cycling along the Newburgh to Napanee highways in his eighties. At 82 years old he took on the role of a lumberjack topping and debranching a 25 metre fir tree in his front yard.
There will be a “Celebration of Life” later in the year.
Wolf would be grateful for any donations in his name to the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital.
Arrangements in the care of Wartman Funeral Home - Napanee. On-line condolences and donations at www.wartmanfuneralhomes.com on Wolf's obit page.
Wolf is very sadly missed by his many friends and family. Wolf was very close to Ken and Deborah Clarke and Ken’s parents Ken and Peggy Clarke. He joined the Clarke family in 1985 and lived in Newburgh until 2003. He was a beloved grandfather figure to Harry and Alison Clarke. Wolf is also dearly missed by Nancy Doucet who stayed with and cared for Wolf in his final years, his nephew Wolfgang Bastert and family, his friends Reno and Pauline Torresan, Christl Reidel, Sylvia Filkins, Inez Powell, his former wife Ruth Ann and many others.
Wolf is the fourth son of Hermann Heinrich Wilhelm Bastert and Katharina Wilhelmine Johanne (Käthe) Bastert. Wolf was born in Wuppertal, Germany where his father worked as a protestant pastor.
Wolf had six brothers (eldest to youngest):
• Hermann, born in Wuppertal 1926, worked as a protestant pastor in Warburg, Germany, he died last year age 95
• Paul-Gerhard, born in Wuppertal 1927, worked as a protestant pastor in Oer Erkenschwick, Germany, he died in 1991
• Helmut, born in Wuppertal 1928, worked as a protestant pastor for the German marine, he died in 1989
• Hans-Martin, born in Wuppertal 1932, worked as an engineer at a company in Dortmund, Germany, he died last year age 89
• Horst, born in Wuppertal died as a baby in 1935
• Friedrich, born in Soest 1936, worked as a protestant pastor near Bonn, and continues to live near Bonn
The boys grew up in Soest. The family moved there because their father worked as a director of a Protestant institution helping women in need. ("Westfälische Frauenhilfe”).
Wolf decided to immigrate to Canada in 1960. He moved to Hamburg and worked at the harbour to earn the money for his emigration by ship. In Canada he graduated as an electrical technician and worked in the Cambridge, Woodstock and Toronto areas for CN Telecommunications.
Wolf loved to share stories and memories. He was a great friend, consoler, mentor, listener, and advisor. Wolf was also a life-long learner who liked nothing more than to share his vast general knowledge.
Wolf was a larger-than-life character. He was happy when working on projects which interested and challenged him such as restoring clocks, surfing the internet, growing plants, tending his garden, photography, canning and inventing. Some activities were to the amazement and genuine worry of his loved ones. Wolf took to cycling along the Newburgh to Napanee highways in his eighties. At 82 years old he took on the role of a lumberjack topping and debranching a 25 metre fir tree in his front yard.
There will be a “Celebration of Life” later in the year.
Wolf would be grateful for any donations in his name to the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital.
Arrangements in the care of Wartman Funeral Home - Napanee. On-line condolences and donations at www.wartmanfuneralhomes.com on Wolf's obit page.