Obituary of Bill Unrau

Unrau, Wilhelm - known more lovingly to most as Bill or Willie, died at the near-most year of 84; not of covid, but still unknown at present.

Our dad left this earth on May 7, 2021, to be with his Saviour in Heaven.  As he was listening to his favourite hymns, the last words he whispered were that he was “going home – going home”. We thank the Lord that He called his son, Bill, home to Heaven, where he has been made whole again.  And we, who are born-again, and saved, will see him again some day.

Predeceased by his first wife of 53 years, Norma (2013), he leaves behind, for now, his children; Debbie (Mike) Culp; Cheryl (Terry); Bill; Lisa (Lee) Ripenburg; Paul (Christine); and his beloved grandchildren: Joshua, Ben, Steven, Daniel, Isaac (& Taylor), Andrew, Livi, Seth and Paul Wm.  Brothers: Jacob; Fred (Andrea); Henry (Mary); Ed; Bob (Barb); John (2005) (Donna).

Bill was born in Steinbach, Manitoba on June 5, 1937 to Ben and Helen Unrau.  The family moved to Beamsville in 1950, where he met his future wife, Norma.  They married in 1960. Bill and Norma were blessed with 5 children of their own, along with their children’s many friends who lovingly called them mom and dad as well.

Bill worked at Cashway, and eventually pursued a career as Manager at Wentworth Lumber in Hamilton and Burlington.

As he and Norma raised their family, they also became very involved with their church family at Calvary Gospel Church.  They started Christian Salvage Mission with Pastor Lauren Redinger and his late wife Dorothy.  He also became very involved in the Sunday School Dept., following his passion and love for his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Bill retired from Wentworth in the 80’s and followed another job skill of carpentry.  He could build “something out of nothing” and enjoyed this new endeavour.  He also used this talent to help build the sets for “Evening in Bethlehem”, a live Christmas Nativity which many people looked forward to, for many years, at Calvary.

In that time, dad also squeezed in, a lifetime dream of owning and operating Jenny’s Fish & Chips in Beamsville, as his final retirement job.  He always wanted to be able to walk to work, after so many years of commuting back and forth to the big cities and wasting so much time on the road.

Later in life he realized that he had followed the career path of his Lord; carpentry, feeding the multitudes with fish, teaching the Gospel in Sunday School and being a fisher of men.  He passed many of these skills on to his children and grandchildren like wood working, musical talents, and serving the Lord.

After Norma passed away in 2013, Bill decided to move to a smaller home in a little suburb area in Welland.  A small church community in Welland took him under wing, and dad was off on a new venture.  He never liked just sitting around.  He also stayed involved with his love of music.  He enjoyed playing his guitar and singing at retirement homes, churches, etc. with his son-in-law and grandchildren.  And we are so glad he loved nature and passed on this love to his family with many beloved camping trips, hikes, bike rides, canoeing, and fishing.

In 2015 he started a relationship with Jean (Pruysers) (nee Ruber). Their commonalities soon led them down the path of wedlock in Feb. 2016, both for a second time, after losing their first spouses.  Their enjoyment of the outdoors, especially gardening and bike riding had given them 5 years of special times together.

Dad always liked to keep busy, so when Dad’s health declined quite rapidly in the last month or so, he was nothappy, having to slow down and become a “patient”. He was always better doing for others, than others doing for him.  We told him, “Dad, it has to work both ways”.  Dad did not let on too much about his deteriorating condition.  Anyone who knew him well, knew he was not going to run to the doctor for everything.  He was a naturalist. He would rather use what God provided on this earth, healthy food and a healthy lifestyle.  And, as long as he could make his own decisions, he had the right to choose.

He will be missed by his family: kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters in law, countless nieces, nephews, & friends.

We love you Dad (Bill)!